Origin
Lake View, IA
Night in Lake View on Friday
Local time
10:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lake View, 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
2h 8m
Distance
124.7 mi
201 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 59m
★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 26m
10 AM
2h 14m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 15m
5 PM
2h 25m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lake View, IA
Maria Borisenko
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lake View, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 124.7 miles and takes about 2h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Union Avenue, Hawthorne Avenue, 120th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.50 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.
Midpoint
62.3 miles from Lake View, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 124.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 8m drive with frequent turns across 124.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Union Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Lake View, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 8m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake View, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Union Avenue | — | — |
| Hawthorne Avenue | — | — |
| 120th Street | — | — |
| 180th Street | — | — |
| 30th Street | — | — |
| Noble Avenue | — | — |
| US 30 | — | — |
| County Road N33 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Union Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake View, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on 330th Street
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
330th Street
2
Turn right onto Union Avenue
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Union Avenue
3
Continue on Union Avenue
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Union Avenue
4
Continue on Hawthorne Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hawthorne Avenue
5
Turn left onto 120th Street
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
120th Street
6
Turn right
6.1 mi
·
8 min
7
Turn left onto 180th Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
180th Street
8
Continue on 30th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
30th Street
9
Continue on 180th Street
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
180th Street
10
Turn right onto Noble Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Noble Avenue
11
Turn left onto US 30
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30
12
Continue on County Road N33
10 mi
·
14 min
·
County Road N33
13
Continue on 220th Street
21 mi
·
28 min
·
220th Street
14
Turn right onto 9th N Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
9th N Street
15
Continue on South 9th Street
495 ft
·
18 sec
·
South 9th Street
16
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Main Street
17
Continue on U Avenue
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
U Avenue
18
Turn slight left onto 144 Diagonal
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
144 Diagonal
19
Continue on Apple Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Apple Road
20
Continue on 325th Street
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
325th Street
21
Continue on D Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
D Avenue
22
Turn left onto 335th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
335th Street
23
Continue on East Avenue
469 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Avenue
24
Turn right onto 335th Street
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
335th Street
25
At the end of the road, turn right onto H Avenue
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
H Avenue
26
Continue on N Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
27
Take the exit left toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 141 east: Urbandale
28
Continue on Northwest Granger Drive
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
29
Continue on Northwest 114th Street
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
30
Continue on Northeast Grimes Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
31
Continue on Grimes Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
32
Continue on Southeast Grimes Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
33
Continue on Northwest Urbandale Drive
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
34
Turn left onto I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
35
Merge slight left
7.3 mi
·
8 min
36
Take the exit slight right toward IA 415: Polk City
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
IA 415: Polk City
37
Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
38
Continue on 2nd Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
39
Turn left onto University Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
40
Continue on East University Avenue
98 ft
·
9 sec
·
East University Avenue
41
Arrive at your destination
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 62.3 miles from Lake View, IA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
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 27 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 44m
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 Lake View, 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 View, IA
This is one driving day of about 124.7 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Lake View, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.3 mi from Lake View, IA · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.3 miles from Lake View, 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.
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
$19.50 one way
$38.99 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.41 | $42.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.00 | $47.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.53 | $55.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.09 | $5.99 |
| Efficient EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.91 | $4.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.46 | $7.98 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Night in Des Moines on Friday
Local time
10:48 PM
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
22 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 8m 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 View, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 124.7 miles and takes about 2h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Union Avenue, Hawthorne Avenue, 120th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.3 miles from Lake View, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.50 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.
The drive from Lake View, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 8m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lake View, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lake View, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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