Wellman, IA to Des Moines, IA is 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 19m via I 80 and State Highway 22, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the Midwest, staying within Iowa for the entirety of the journey. It's a straightforward drive focused primarily on efficient highway travel. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.7 miles from Wellman, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 115.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with an impressive 87% of the journey taking place on major highways like I 80. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 78.6 miles on I 80, offering a consistent pace. While M Avenue and State Highway 22 will introduce some variation, the overall character is one of smooth, efficient transit. Expect a drive that prioritizes getting you to Des Moines quickly and directly, minimizing detours.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 78.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 22. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2nd Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 19m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 109.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|2nd Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 22 / 6th Street
Turn left onto IA 22 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
7
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
114.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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 80
78.6 mi
1h 24m
State Highway 22
12.8 mi
18m
M Avenue
11.9 mi
16m
State Highway 149
5.2 mi
7m
John MacVicar Freeway
4 mi
5m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
9th Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 78.6 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellman, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on this road
135 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street
165 ft·8 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.3 mi·32 sec·9th Avenue
4
Turn left onto IA 22
0.3 mi·22 sec·6th Street
5
Continue on IA 22
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 22
6
Continue on IA 22
0.4 mi·36 sec·Main Street
7
Turn right onto IA 149
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 149
8
Continue on IA 149
12 mi·16 min·M Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
12
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East VillageUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn AvenueUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi·34 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
16
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 115-mile trip, there's no need to split the drive. You can comfortably leave Wellman, IA in the morning and arrive in Des Moines well before midday. With a fuel cost estimated around $18, keeping your tank full is easy. While the drive is mostly highway, be mindful of the transition onto State Highway 22 and M Avenue as you approach your destination; these may have slightly lower speed limits or more local traffic. A good strategy is to depart after breakfast to maximize your daylight hours upon arrival.
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 57.7 miles from Wellman, IA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.6 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 25 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.7 miles or 1h 14m 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 54m
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 Wellman, 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 Wellman, IA
This is one driving day of about 115.3 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Wellman, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 78.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.7 mi from Wellman, IA
· 1h 14m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.6
0
$12.11
$5.53
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.09
$4.61
EV Truck/SUV
46.1
0
$16.14
$7.38
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Wellman, IA
Morning
in Wellman on Saturday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
58 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
1 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
2h 19m 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 Wellman, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 115.3 miles and takes about 2h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, State Highway 22, M Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.7 miles from Wellman, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.03 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 is a straightforward 2h 19m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 109.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wellman, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
