Origin
Muscatine, IA
Morning in Muscatine on Wednesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Muscatine, IA to Des Moines, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 56m
Distance
153.9 mi
248 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muscatine, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Muscatine, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 153.9 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, State Highway 38, US 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 132.7 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.06 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
76.9 miles from Muscatine, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 2h 56m highway drive covering 153.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and State Highway 38. The longest continuous stretch is about 132.7 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 132.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 38. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 61 Business / East 2nd Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 56m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 61 Business / East 2nd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 61 Business / East 2nd Street
Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business / East 2nd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
15.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
148.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
152.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m 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
153.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 132.7 mi | 2h 23m |
| State Highway 38 | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| US 6 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Park Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 132.7 mi, about 2h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muscatine, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
157 ft
·
10 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
360 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto Mulberry Avenue
330 ft
·
9 sec
·
Mulberry Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business
193 ft
·
3 sec
·
East 2nd Street
5
Continue on US 61 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
6
Continue on US 61 Business; IA 38; IA 92
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Park Avenue
7
Continue on IA 38
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 38
8
Continue on US 6
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 6
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
133 mi
·
2 hr 23 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
12
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
16
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
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 76.9 miles from Muscatine, IA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.7 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 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.9 miles or 1h 30m 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 23m
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 Muscatine, 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 Muscatine, IA
This is one driving day of about 153.9 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Muscatine, 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 I 80 for about 132.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.9 mi from Muscatine, IA · 1h 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 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 76.9 miles from Muscatine, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132.7 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.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.06 one way
$48.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
54 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.42 | $52.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.62 | $59.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.98 | $67.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.16 | $7.39 |
| Efficient EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.47 | $6.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.6 | 0 | $21.55 | $9.85 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning in Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
7:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
29 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 56m 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 Muscatine, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 153.9 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, State Highway 38, US 6. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.9 miles from Muscatine, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.06 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 56m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 61 Business / East 2nd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 15.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 148.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Muscatine, 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 from Muscatine, IA
More trips to Des Moines, IA
Explore more options from Muscatine, IA or browse trips ending in Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Muscatine, IA or Des Moines, IA on MapSof.net.