Origin
Webster City, IA
Evening in Webster City on Friday
Local time
6:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Webster City, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
74.8 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Webster City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Webster City to Des Moines is 74.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via I 35 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward journey stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest's familiar landscapes. It's a short, efficient trip primarily on well-maintained highways, making it an easy decision for a quick drive. You'll find it a practical option if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without much fuss.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 74.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 35 and US 20. Expect a consistent pace for most of the 74.8 miles, including a continuous stretch of 54.5 miles on I 35. While the majority of your time will be spent on this high-speed corridor, the approach into Des Moines will involve navigating the John MacVicar Freeway. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, with minimal slowdowns.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
5
14.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
68.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
73.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m 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
74.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m 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...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 54.5 mi | 59m |
| US 20 | 11.9 mi | 13m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Superior Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Briggs Woods Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Webster City, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on CR D20
60 ft
·
5 sec
·
2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Superior Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Superior Street
3
Continue on IA 17
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Briggs Woods Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
12 mi
·
13 min
·
US 20
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
7
Merge onto I 35
54 mi
·
59 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
13
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.4 mi from Webster City, IA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.4 miles from Webster City, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.69 one way
$23.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.84 | $25.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.39 | $28.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.51 | $33.03 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.85 | $3.59 |
| Efficient EV | 18.7 | 0 | $6.54 | $2.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.9 | 0 | $10.47 | $4.79 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Evening in Des Moines on Friday
Local time
6:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
4 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 26m 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 Webster City, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 74.8 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, John MacVicar Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.4 miles from Webster City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.69 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.8 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 68.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Webster City, 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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