Drive Time
4h 5m
Distance
231.9 mi
373 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
Photo: Daniel Dorfer
The drive from George, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 231.9 miles and takes about 4h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Boiler Avenue, South Virginia Street, L14 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
116 miles from George, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 5m drive with frequent turns across 231.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Boiler Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Virginia Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| L14 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kennedy Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Colfax Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 320th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Jackson Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road K64 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between George, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
Start on North Main Street
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
Turn right onto South Virginia Street
Continue on L14
Continue on Kennedy Avenue
Continue on Colfax Street
Turn right onto 320th Street
Turn left onto Jackson Avenue
Continue on County Road K64
Continue on Albany Avenue
Continue on Albany Place
Continue on County Road K64
Turn right
Continue straight
Take the exit slight right toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines
Merge slight right
Keep slight left to continue on John MacVicar Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Turn right onto 8th Street
Turn left onto Vine Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116 miles or 2h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 231.9 miles and 4h 5m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 116 mi from George, IA · 2h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 116 miles from George, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into West 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 West Des Moines, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$34.43 one way
$68.86 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $38.83 | $77.66 |
| premium | $4.65 | $42.49 | $84.98 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $48.43 | $96.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.6 | 0 | $24.35 | $11.13 |
| Efficient EV | 58 | 0 | $20.29 | $9.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.8 | 1 | $32.47 | $14.84 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in George on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Omaha, NE
116 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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