The drive from Lake Mills, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 146.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, John MacVicar Freeway, 410th Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.9 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.92 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
73.3 miles from Lake Mills, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 146.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a 2h 50m drive with frequent turns across 146.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 120.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in near CR A38 / 410th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (CR A38 / 410th Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
8 mi into trip|~12m in|CR A38 / 410th Street
Turn left onto CR A38 / 410th Street
Navigation decision point
4
13.4 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the ramp toward Blanco River
Navigation decision point
Toward Blanco River
5
13.7 mi into trip|~22m in|I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
134.5 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
144.8 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
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 Lake Mills, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Blanco River along the way.
Blanco River
13.4 mi in|~22m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
120.9 mi
2h 10m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
410th Street
5.4 mi
9m
Bluebill Avenue
3.7 mi
5m
County Road 105
1.5 mi
2m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
County Highway 105
1 mi
1m
North Western Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 120.9 mi, about 2h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Mills, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on US 69
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
2
Continue on CR 105
1.0 mi·1 min·County Highway 105
3
Continue on CR 105; I 35 ALT
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road 105
4
Turn right onto Bluebill Avenue
3.7 mi·5 min·Bluebill Avenue
5
Continue on North Western Street
1.0 mi·1 min·North Western Street
6
Turn left onto CR A38
5.4 mi·9 min·410th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward Blanco River
8
Merge onto I 35; IA 27
121 mi·2 hr 10 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
10
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
13
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
14
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
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 73.3 miles from Lake Mills, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.9 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 32 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 27m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Mills, 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 Lake Mills, IA
This is one driving day of about 146.6 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Lake Mills, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 120.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.3 mi from Lake Mills, IA
· 1h 27m into the drive
The midpoint is around 73.3 miles from Lake Mills, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.9 miles.
Arriving in West Des Moines, IA
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
West Des Moines, Iowa
Near the end, short detour
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 146.6
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.92 one way
$45.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.16
$50.33
premium
$4.89
$28.21
$56.42
diesel
$5.61
$32.37
$64.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.39
$7.04
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.83
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Lake Mills, IA
Late night
in Lake Mills on Saturday
Local time
1:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
1:15 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
2h 50m 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 Lake Mills, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 146.6 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, John MacVicar Freeway, 410th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.3 miles from Lake Mills, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.92 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles (CR A38 / 410th Street): Navigation decision point; at 13.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 13.7 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Lake Mills, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Blanco River along the way.
