Origin
Tripoli, IA
Late night in Tripoli on Saturday
Local time
5:46 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 59m
Distance
135.5 mi
218 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 48m
★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 22m
10 AM
3h 7m
12 PM
3h 5m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 21m
8 PM
2h 52m
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 135.5 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IA 330, Sanford Avenue, US 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on IA 330. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.18 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
67.8 miles from Tripoli, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 135.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (42%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Tripoli, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 135.5 miles and takes about 2h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 330 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 135.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 29 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
27.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
7
125.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
129.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 50m 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
8
134.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m 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
134.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m 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 Tripoli, IA and Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Uni and Grundy Center.
Uni
27.1 mi in
|
~36m
Grundy Center
47.4 mi in
|
~1h 3m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 330 | 35.9 mi | 42m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| US 20 | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| Larrabee Avenue | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Logan Avenue | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| University Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
IA 330
— 35.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tripoli, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on IA 93
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 93
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on IA 93
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
170th Street
4
Turn left onto US 63
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
5
Continue on US 63
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
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 218 north
9
Merge onto US 218
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
10
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 218
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
12
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 183
Toward University Avenue
14
Keep slight right at fork
333 ft
·
8 sec
15
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
16
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
124 ft
·
2 sec
·
University Avenue
17
Continue on 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
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Use the right lane.
20
Merge onto US 20
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 20
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
22
Turn left onto IA 14
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 IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
27
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
28
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
29
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
30
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
31
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi
·
42 min
·
IA 330
32
Take the exit onto US 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
34
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
37
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
38
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
39
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 67.8 miles from Tripoli, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 30 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 32m 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 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 135.5 miles and 2h 59m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on IA 330 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.8 mi from Tripoli, IA · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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 67.8 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
$21.18 one way
$42.37 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.26 | $46.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.08 | $52.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.92 | $59.83 |
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: 47.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.23 | $6.50 |
| Efficient EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.97 | $8.67 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
5:46 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 59m 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 135.5 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 330, Sanford Avenue, US 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 67.8 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 $21.18 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 is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 135.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 129.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tripoli, IA and Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Uni and Grundy Center.
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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