The drive from Nashua, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 143.7 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, State Highway 3, 210th Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.8 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.47 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
71.8 miles from Nashua, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 143.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 58m highway drive covering 143.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and State Highway 3. The longest continuous stretch is about 77.8 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 77.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 3. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 59.8 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 143.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 59.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
59.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the ramp toward Hampton, Clarion
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hampton, Clarion
5
60.1 mi into trip|~1h 25m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
137.8 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
142.7 mi into trip|~2h 56m 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
143 mi into trip|~2h 56m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Nashua, IA and Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
Hampton
59.8 mi in|~1h 24m
Clarion
59.8 mi in|~1h 24m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
77.8 mi
1h 24m
State Highway 3
18.2 mi
25m
210th Street
15.7 mi
21m
Avenue of the Saints
6.6 mi
7m
140th Street
6.4 mi
9m
John MacVicar Freeway
4 mi
5m
Spring Avenue
4 mi
5m
Central Avenue East
2.1 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 77.8 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashua, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto IA 346
0.9 mi·1 min·Sample Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·49 sec
4
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
6.6 mi·7 min·Avenue of the Saints
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
6
Turn right onto IA 188
6.4 mi·9 min·140th Street
7
Turn left onto IA 188
4.0 mi·5 min·Spring Avenue
8
Continue on IA 188
1.5 mi·2 min·North Main Street
9
Continue on State Highway 188
1.8 mi·2 min·State Highway 188
10
At end of road, turn right onto IA 3
6.5 mi·8 min·210th Street
11
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
12
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi·10 min·210th Street
13
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi·2 min·South Street
14
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·210th Street
15
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Central Avenue East
17
Continue on IA 3
9.0 mi·12 min·State Highway 3
18
Continue on IA 3
517 ft·13 sec·Balsam Avenue
19
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Hampton, Clarion
20
Merge onto I 35
78 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
22
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East VillageUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn AvenueUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi·34 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
26
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
27
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 71.8 miles from Nashua, IA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.8 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.8 miles or 1h 38m 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 28m
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 Nashua, 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 Nashua, IA
This is one driving day of about 143.7 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Nashua, 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 35 for about 77.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.8 mi from Nashua, IA
· 1h 38m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.47 one way
$44.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.67
$49.33
premium
$4.89
$27.65
$55.31
diesel
$5.61
$31.73
$63.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.1
0
$15.09
$6.90
Efficient EV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.75
EV Truck/SUV
57.5
0
$20.12
$9.20
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Nashua, IA
Late night
in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Late night
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
5:36 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
18 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 58m 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 Nashua, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 143.7 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, State Highway 3, 210th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.8 miles from Nashua, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.47 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 143.7 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 59.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 60.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 137.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Nashua, IA and Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Hampton and Clarion.
