Origin
Eagle Grove, IA
Late night in Eagle Grove on Thursday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eagle Grove, IA to Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
93.4 mi
150 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagle Grove, IA
Tom Fisk
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 93.4-mile drive from Eagle Grove, IA, to Des Moines, IA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking just about 1 hour and 52 minutes. With 87% of the journey on highways, it's a quick and efficient route, perfect for getting to your destination without much fuss. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $14, making it an economical choice for travelers. This drive stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It's a practical option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Iowa points, with no designated stops needed for this relatively short distance.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.7 miles from Eagle Grove, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 93.4-mile trip, with 87% of your drive taking place on major roads like I 35 and US 20. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 54.5 miles on I 35, allowing for a consistent pace. While the majority is highway, you'll also navigate portions of Stagecoach Road, introducing a slight change in pace. The profile suggests a fairly direct and efficient drive, minimizing complexity and maximizing forward momentum.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.5 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,191 ft
873 ft
Total Climb
278 ft
Total Descent
521 ft
Highest Point
1,191 ft
~26.7 mi in
Elevation Range
318 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.5 miles in near CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
5
33.1 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
92.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Ea...
8
92.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Aven...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 54.5 mi | 59m |
| US 20 | 16.4 mi | 18m |
| Stagecoach Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 17 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| South Commercial Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 220th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Grove, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway Street
30 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Commercial Avenue
3
Continue on IA 17
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 17
4
Continue on IA 17
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Stagecoach Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
220th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 17
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Stagecoach Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward US 20 East
8
Merge onto US 20
16 mi
·
18 min
·
US 20
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
10
Merge onto I 35
54 mi
·
59 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
12
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
16
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 52-minute duration, this route from Eagle Grove to Des Moines offers great flexibility; you can depart at your leisure. With a fuel cost of approximately $14, planning for fuel stops is minimal, but it's always wise to top off before leaving Eagle Grove. The longest stretch on I 35 is over 50 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before you begin. Keep an eye on road conditions, especially if traveling during inclement weather, as this is a highway-heavy route.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.7 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 miles.
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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.7 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eagle Grove, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Eagle Grove, IA
This is one driving day of about 93.4 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Eagle Grove, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.7 mi from Eagle Grove, IA · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.7 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
The final approach into Des Moines, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.60 one way
$29.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.03 | $32.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.97 | $35.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.62 | $41.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28 | 0 | $9.81 | $4.48 |
| Efficient EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.17 | $3.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.08 | $5.98 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
1:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
19 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
1h 52m 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 Eagle Grove, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 93.4 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, Stagecoach Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.7 miles from Eagle Grove, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.60 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.4 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Eagle Grove, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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