Origin
Sumner, IA
Afternoon in Sumner on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 45m
Distance
156.1 mi
251 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 35m
★
6 AM
2h 46m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sumner, IA
Josef Traxler
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 156.1 miles and takes about 2h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 140th Street, Piedmont Avenue, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.40 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
78.1 miles from Sumner, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 45m drive with frequent turns across 156.1 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.
140th 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 45m 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 Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 140th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Piedmont Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 7th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 170th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Larrabee Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Logan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Airline Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
140th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumner, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on East 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
2
Continue on 140th Street
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
140th Street
3
Keep slight left to continue on Piedmont Avenue
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Piedmont Avenue
4
Continue on North Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
5
Turn right onto 7th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue Southwest
6
Continue on 170th Street
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
170th Street
7
Turn left onto Larrabee Avenue
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
8
Continue on Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
9
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
10
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
11
Take the ramp right toward US 218 north
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218 north
12
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
14
Keep slight left to continue on IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
15
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit slight right toward University Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
University Avenue
17
Keep slight right
335 ft
·
8 sec
18
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
University Avenue
20
Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
21
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
22
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
23
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
13 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
25
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
26
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
27
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
28
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
29
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
30
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
31
Turn right onto 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
32
Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
33
Continue on Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
34
Turn right
36 mi
·
42 min
35
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
36
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
37
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
38
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
39
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
40
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 78.1 miles from Sumner, IA, or about 1h 22m 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.1 miles or 1h 22m 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 Sumner, 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 Sumner, IA
This is one driving day of about 156.1 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sumner, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.1 mi from Sumner, IA · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 78.1 miles from Sumner, 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
$24.40 one way
$48.81 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.80 | $53.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.04 | $60.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.46 | $68.93 |
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: 54.6 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 | 46.8 | 0 | $16.39 | $7.49 |
| Efficient EV | 39 | 0 | $13.66 | $6.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.4 | 0 | $21.85 | $9.99 |
Gas CO2
55 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
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
2:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
78 mi in
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
17 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 45m 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 Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 156.1 miles and takes about 2h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 140th Street, Piedmont Avenue, North Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.1 miles from Sumner, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.40 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.
The drive from Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 45m 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 Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sumner, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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