Origin
Tripoli, IA
Late night in Tripoli on Saturday
Local time
4:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 23m
Distance
138.6 mi
223 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 14m
★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 30m
12 PM
2h 28m
3 PM
2h 31m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tripoli, IA
Agung Pandit Wiguna
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 138.6 miles and takes about 2h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 7th Avenue Southwest, 170th Street, Larrabee Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.67 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.
Midpoint
69.3 miles from Tripoli, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 138.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 23m drive with frequent turns across 138.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
7th Avenue Southwest 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 Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 23m 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 Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 7th Avenue Southwest | — | — |
| 170th Street | — | — |
| Larrabee Avenue | — | — |
| Logan Avenue | — | — |
| West Airline Highway | — | — |
| Airport Boulevard | — | — |
| US 218 north | — | — |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
7th Avenue Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tripoli, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto 7th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on 170th Street
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
170th Street
4
Turn left onto Larrabee Avenue
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
5
Continue on Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
7
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
8
Take the ramp right toward US 218 north
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218 north
9
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
10
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
11
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
12
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit slight right toward University Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
University Avenue
14
Keep slight right
335 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
16
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
University Avenue
17
Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
18
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
19
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
20
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
13 min
21
Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
22
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
23
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
24
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
25
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
26
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
27
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
28
Turn right onto 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
29
Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
30
Continue on Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
31
Turn right
36 mi
·
42 min
32
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
33
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
34
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
35
Take the exit slight right toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
36
Keep slight right to continue on East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
37
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
38
Turn left onto East University Avenue
98 ft
·
9 sec
·
East University Avenue
39
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 69.3 miles from Tripoli, IA, or about 1h 11m 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 30 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.3 miles or 1h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 57m
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 Tripoli, 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 Tripoli, IA
This is one driving day of about 138.6 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Tripoli, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.3 mi from Tripoli, IA · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 69.3 miles from Tripoli, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.67 one way
$43.34 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.79 | $47.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.67 | $53.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.60 | $61.20 |
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: 48.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.6 | 0 | $14.55 | $6.65 |
| Efficient EV | 34.7 | 0 | $12.13 | $5.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55.4 | 0 | $19.40 | $8.87 |
Gas CO2
48 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.
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
4:07 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 23m 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 Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 138.6 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 7th Avenue Southwest, 170th Street, Larrabee Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.3 miles from Tripoli, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.67 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 Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 23m 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 Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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