Origin
Storm Lake, IA
Afternoon in Storm Lake on Thursday
Local time
2:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
8m
Distance
5 mi
8 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 8m
★
6 AM
0h 8m
★
8 AM
0h 10m
10 AM
0h 9m
12 PM
0h 9m
3 PM
0h 9m
5 PM
0h 10m
8 PM
0h 8m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Storm Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Alta, IA
Tara Winstead
Trip Overview
The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA covers 5 miles and takes about 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West 5th Street, Vestal Street, West Milwaukee Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $0.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 8m. Total distance: 5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 8m drive with frequent turns across 5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 5th Street 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 Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA is easy. At 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 Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 5th Street | — | — |
| Vestal Street | — | — |
| West Milwaukee Avenue | — | — |
| Highway 7 | — | — |
| 60th Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Storm Lake, IA and Alta, IA.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto West 5th Street
210 ft
·
9 sec
·
West 5th Street
3
Turn right onto Vestal Street
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Vestal Street
4
Turn left onto West Milwaukee Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Milwaukee Avenue
5
Continue on Highway 7
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 7
6
Turn right onto 60th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
60th Avenue
7
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$0.78 one way
$1.56 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $0.86 | $1.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $0.96 | $1.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.10 | $2.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 1.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 1.5 | 0 | $0.52 | $0.24 |
| Efficient EV | 1.3 | 0 | $0.44 | $0.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2 | 0 | $0.70 | $0.32 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Alta, IA
Afternoon in Alta on Thursday
Local time
2:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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
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 Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA covers 5 miles and takes about 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 5th Street, Vestal Street, West Milwaukee Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 2.5 miles from Storm Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $0.78 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 Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA is easy. At 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 Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Storm Lake, IA to Alta, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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