Origin
George, IA
Afternoon in George on Sunday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from George, IA to Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
5h 4m
Distance
244.4 mi
393 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
George, IA
Mike Bird
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from George to Des Moines covers 244.4 miles across the Iowa landscape. Expect to spend about 5 hours and 4 minutes on the road, making this a manageable single-day trip for most drivers. You should budget roughly $37 for fuel to complete the journey. Since the route stays entirely within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. While one stop is recommended to break up the time, the trip is straightforward enough to complete without an overnight stay. It serves as a practical connection between these two points, offering a balanced mix of local roads and interstate travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
122.2 miles from George, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive features a mixed profile that transitions between rural paths and major thoroughfares. You will spend roughly 32% of your time on highways, with the journey anchored by stretches on 220th Street, I-35, and 20th Avenue. Be prepared for a significant initial leg, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 92.4 miles on 220th Street. The character of the road shifts as you leave the quieter local routes and merge onto the more heavily trafficked interstate system. You will find that the driving experience changes pace considerably once you transition from the rural segments onto the faster, high-speed sections of the highway.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 92.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19 miles in near CR B20 / West 16th Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244.4 miles you will encounter 20 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 19 miles (CR B20 / West 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.2 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
19 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
CR B20 / West 16th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR B20 / West 16th Street
Navigation decision point
6
27.2 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
L22 / Log Avenue
Turn left onto L22 / Log Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
37.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
243.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 2m 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
243.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 3m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 92.4 mi | 1h 46m |
| I 35 | 54.5 mi | 59m |
| 20th Avenue | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 3 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| IA 60 Business | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| 320th Street | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Armstrong Avenue | 6 mi | 8m |
| D Avenue | 5.7 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 92.4 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between George, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on North Main Street
377 ft
·
17 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Boiler Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Virginia Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Virginia Street
4
Continue on L14
5.7 mi
·
8 min
·
L14
5
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Kennedy Avenue
6
Continue on CR L14
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Colfax Street
7
Turn left onto US 18; CR L14
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
320th Street
8
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
West Park Street
9
Continue on US 18
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
320th Street
10
Turn right onto Western Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Western Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR B20
360 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 16th Street
12
Turn right onto IA 60 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue
13
Take the ramp onto IA 60 Business
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 60 Business
14
Turn left onto L22
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Log Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto IA 10
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
460th Street
16
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Garfield Street
17
Continue on IA 10
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
460th Street
18
Turn right onto IA 143
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Nettle Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
D Avenue
20
Continue on IA 143
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Ames Avenue
21
Turn left onto IA 3
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
490th Street
22
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 3
23
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
500th Street
24
Turn straight onto IA 3
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
25
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
530th Street
26
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
V Avenue
27
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
28
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 7
29
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 7
30
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
20th Avenue
31
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Armstrong Avenue
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
92 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
220th Street
Use the none lane.
33
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
34
Merge onto I 35
54 mi
·
59 min
·
I 35
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
36
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
38
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
39
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
40
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
41
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour journey, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid peak traffic periods. Given the 244.4-mile distance, utilizing your single recommended stop to refuel and stretch your legs will help maintain your focus. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the initial 92.4-mile stretch on 220th Street, as services may be less frequent compared to the I-35 portion of the trip. Since the drive is compact enough for a single day, you have the flexibility to choose your own pace without needing to rush. Prioritizing a mid-trip break will ensure you arrive in Des Moines feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 122.2 miles from George, IA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 92.4 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122.2 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
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 George, 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 George, IA
This is one driving day of about 244.4 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from George, 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.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 92.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 122.2 mi from George, IA · 2h 44m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 122.2 miles from George, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 92.4 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Des Moines, 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
$37.12 one way
$74.24 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $40.92 | $81.85 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.14 | $92.28 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.30 | $108.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.66 | $11.73 |
| Efficient EV | 61.1 | 0 | $21.38 | $9.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.8 | 1 | $34.22 | $15.64 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
2:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
47°F
Denison, IA
122 mi in
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
31 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
5h 4m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from George, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 244.4 miles and takes about 5h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, I 35, 20th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 122.2 miles from George, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244.4 miles you will encounter 20 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 19 miles (CR B20 / West 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.2 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from George, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Des Moines, IA
More trips to Des Moines, IA
Explore more options from George, IA or browse trips ending in Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for George, IA or Des Moines, IA on MapSof.net.