Origin
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to Stuart, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
46m
Distance
39.7 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Stuart, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Stuart, IA covers 39.7 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, John MacVicar Freeway, South Division Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.1 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.21 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 46m. Total distance: 39.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 46m highway drive covering 39.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 29.1 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 west
Navigation decision point
Toward I-235 west
5
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
9.8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 29.1 mi | 31m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 9 mi | 11m |
| South Division Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East University Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 29.1 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Stuart, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft
·
39 sec
·
East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East University Avenue
3
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
4
Continue on East 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East 6th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-235 west
6
Merge onto I 235
9.0 mi
·
11 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 80
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward CR P28: Stuart, Panora
9
Turn right onto CR P28
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Division Street
10
Arrive at destination
CR P28
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.9 mi from Des Moines, IA · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Stuart, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Stuart, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.21 one way
$12.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.81 | $13.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.77 | $17.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Stuart, IA
Late night in Stuart on Saturday
Local time
3:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
46m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Stuart, IA covers 39.7 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, John MacVicar Freeway, South Division Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.9 miles from Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.21 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Des Moines, IA to Stuart, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Stuart, IA
Explore more options from Des Moines, IA or browse trips ending in Stuart, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.