Trip from Springville, IA to West Des Moines, IA

Drive Time

2h 49m

Distance

138.7 mi

223 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Springville, IA

Tom Fisk

West Des Moines, IA

Daniel Dorfer

Trip Overview

Spanning 138.7 miles across the Iowa landscape, this trip from Springville to West Des Moines is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 49 minutes. Because of the moderate distance, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $21 on fuel for the trek, which remains entirely within the Midwest region. While the route involves a mix of local roads and highways, it serves as a practical connection between these two points. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this drive offers a manageable pace that avoids the fatigue of a multi-day haul.

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

69.4 miles from Springville, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 22% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads like 73rd Street and Marshalltown Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 37.3 miles while traveling along the Lincoln Highway. Because the route relies heavily on local infrastructure, the character of the road changes frequently as you transition between sections. This is not a high-speed sprint, so prepare for a driving experience that values careful navigation over pure velocity.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CR X20 / 6th Street.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 138.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 0.6 miles (CR X20 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.4 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | CR X20 / 6th Street

Turn left onto CR X20 / 6th Street

Navigation decision point

23 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...

122.4 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in | US 65

Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none lane. Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

126.9 mi into trip | ~2h 31m 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

136.9 mi into trip | ~2h 45m 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 Along This Route

Between Springville, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.

Marshalltown

23 mi in | ~29m

Des Moines

87.7 mi in | ~1h 44m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Lincoln Highway	37.3 mi	43m
Marshalltown Boulevard	33.7 mi	39m
73rd Street	24.4 mi	28m
IA 100	15.2 mi	18m
John MacVicar Freeway	9.4 mi	12m
Dubuque Road	5.5 mi	6m
US 65	4.5 mi	5m
16th Avenue Southwest	2.4 mi	2m

Longest stretch: Lincoln Highway — 37.3 mi, about 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Springville, IA and West Des Moines, IA.

Start on Water Street

56 ft · 7 sec · Water Street

Turn left onto John Street

202 ft · 14 sec · John Street

Turn left onto CR X20

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Broadway Street

Turn right onto CR X20

0.2 mi · 26 sec · 1st Avenue

Turn left onto CR X20

0.2 mi · 22 sec · 6th Street

Continue on CR X20

416 ft · 9 sec · Springville Road

Turn right onto US 151

5.5 mi · 6 min · Dubuque Road

Continue on US 151

0.3 mi · 22 sec · Marion Airport Road

Turn left onto US 151; IA 13

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 151; IA 13

Turn right onto IA 100

15 mi · 18 min · IA 100

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

Merge onto US 30; US 218

2.4 mi · 2 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

Continue on US 30; US 218

24 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

Continue on US 30

37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

Turn left onto IA 330

34 mi · 39 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

Continue on US 65; IA 330

0.7 mi · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

Take the exit onto US 65

4.5 mi · 5 min · US 65

Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 137A Toward I 235 West: Des Moines Use the slight left lane.

Continue on John MacVicar Freeway

9.4 mi · 12 min · John MacVicar Freeway

Toward I 235 West: Des Moines Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Exit 4 Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto IA 28

1.1 mi · 2 min · 63rd Street

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto Vine Street

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Vine Street

Arrive at destination

Vine Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 138.7-mile journey, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic, especially since the route features a significant amount of local road travel. You should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh, which fits perfectly into the nearly three-hour duration. Keep your $21 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops, as local road driving can sometimes be less fuel-efficient than consistent highway cruising. Since this is a one-day trip, having the flexibility to leave when it suits your schedule is a major advantage. Keep a close eye on your navigation when transitioning between the Lincoln Highway and smaller local segments to ensure you stay on track.

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 69.4 miles from Springville, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.3 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 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 69.4 miles or 1h 23m 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 15m

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 Springville, 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 Springville, IA

This is one driving day of about 138.7 miles and 2h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Springville, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 69.4 mi from Springville, IA · 1h 23m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ackley, IA

69 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

Ackley, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ackley, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 69.4 miles from Springville, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.07 one way

$42.13 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$23.22	$46.45
premium	$4.80	$26.18	$52.37
diesel	$5.64	$30.81	$61.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	41.6	$14.56	$6.66
Efficient EV	34.7	$12.14	$5.55
EV Truck/SUV	55.5	$19.42	$8.88

Gas CO2

49 kg

EV CO2

16 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Springville, IA

Afternoon in Springville on Sunday

Local time

2:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Des Moines, IA

Afternoon in West Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

2:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°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

6 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 49m 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 Springville, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 138.7 miles and takes about 2h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Marshalltown Boulevard, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 69.4 miles from Springville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.07 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.

Between Springville, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.

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Return Trip

West Des Moines, IA to Springville, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

138.4 mi 2h 49m

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Trip from Springville, IA to West Des Moines, IA

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in West Des Moines, IA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Springville, IA

West Des Moines, IA

Same local time

6 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 49m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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