Origin
Granger, IA
Afternoon in Granger on Saturday
Local time
3:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Granger, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
31m
Distance
21.4 mi
35 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Granger, IA to Des Moines, IA is 21.4 miles and takes about 31m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Midwest region and the state of Iowa. The route is a mix of highway cruising and surface roads, making it a straightforward drive. Given its brevity, this trip is ideal for a quick errand, a commute, or an easy addition to a longer Iowa adventure, offering flexibility for your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| 2nd Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| Northeast Grimes Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Grimes Boulevard | 0.6 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 7.3 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Granger, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Sycamore Street
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Sycamore Street
2
Turn left onto IA 141
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
3
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
4
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
5
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
6
Continue on IA 141
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on IA 141
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
8
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
9
Merge onto I 80; I 35
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto IA 415
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
12
Continue on IA 415
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
13
Turn left onto University Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
14
Continue on East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 9.5 and 17.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Dave...
5
9.9 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
17.2 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward IA 415: Polk City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
3
17.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
IA 415 / Northwest 2nd Street
Turn right onto IA 415 / Northwest 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.35 one way
$6.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.67 | $7.35 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.12 | $8.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.72 | $9.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 57% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
| Efficient EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.87 | $0.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.00 | $1.37 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (57% 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
Afternoon in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
3:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
WNW 20 mph
1% chance
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
2 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
31m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is about 34% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on I 80 covering 7.3 miles. You'll transition from the highway to surface roads like Northwest Granger Drive and Northwest 114th Street. Expect a blend of faster-paced highway travel and slower, more controlled cruising on local streets. The mixed terrain means you'll notice a change in speed and traffic density as you leave the interstate.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 31m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.9 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Granger, IA to Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Davenport along the way.
Davenport
9.5 mi in
|
~13m
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), and a big annual arts festival that draws visitors from across Iowa and beyond.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 21.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.9 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Des Moines, IA before heading back.
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.
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