Origin
Des Moines, IA
Morning in Des Moines on Friday
Local time
8:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
122 mi
196 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbana, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA covers 122 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East University Avenue, East 14th Street, US 69 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.07 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
61 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 36m. Total distance: 122 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 122 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East University Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA is easy. At 2h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East University Avenue | — | — |
| East 14th Street | — | — |
| US 69 | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| I 35 South | — | — |
| I 80 East | — | — |
| US 6 West | — | — |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East University Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Urbana, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
482 ft
·
39 sec
·
East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East University Avenue
3
Turn right onto East 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
East 14th Street
4
Take the ramp left toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet
5
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80 East: Davenport
8
Merge slight left
3.4 mi
·
3 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
10
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
12
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
13
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
14
Continue on 73rd Street
12 mi
·
13 min
·
73rd Street
15
Turn left onto 21st Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
21st Avenue
16
Continue on 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street
17
Turn right onto 1st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Avenue
18
Continue on State Highway 199
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Highway 199
19
Continue on 70th Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
70th Street
20
Turn left onto 24th Avenue
10.0 mi
·
14 min
·
24th Avenue
21
Turn straight onto State Highway 150
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
State Highway 150
22
Continue on C Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
C Avenue
23
Turn right onto West 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West 2nd Street
24
Turn left onto 24th Avenue Drive
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
24th Avenue Drive
25
Turn straight onto 55th Street
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
55th Street
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 55th Street
151 ft
·
2 sec
·
55th Street
27
Exit the roundabout onto 55th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
55th Street
28
Turn right onto Ash Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Ash Avenue
29
Turn left onto West Wood Street
427 ft
·
12 sec
·
West Wood Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 27 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Moines, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 122 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61 mi from Des Moines, IA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Urbana, IA
The final approach into Urbana, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Urbana, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.07 one way
$38.15 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.94 | $41.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.48 | $46.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.94 | $53.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.81 | $5.86 |
| Efficient EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.67 | $4.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.08 | $7.81 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Urbana, IA
Morning in Urbana on Friday
Local time
8:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 36m 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 Urbana, IA covers 122 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East University Avenue, East 14th Street, US 69. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61 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 $19.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA is easy. At 2h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Des Moines, IA to Urbana, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry@if($hasFuel), EIA for fuel prices@endif@if($hasWeather), NOAA Climate Normals for seasonal conditions@endif@if($hasElevation), USGS 3DEP for elevation@endif@if($hasEv), NREL for EV charging@endif@if($hasParks), and NPS for national parks@endif. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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