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Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Bellevue, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

212.3 mi

342 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 7m ★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 45m
8 PM
4h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties, Iowa, United States

West Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jackson County, Iowa, United States

Bellevue, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Bellevue, IA covers 212.3 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 200th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.19 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

106.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 20m drive with frequent turns across 212.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 212.3 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 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Grand Avenue

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway

Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

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. Exit 137A-B Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
9
11.3 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
15 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 65

Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

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 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between West Des Moines, IA and Bellevue, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Bondurant and Marion.

Council Bluffs

11 mi in | ~16m

Davenport

11 mi in | ~16m

Bondurant

15 mi in | ~21m | via US 65

Marion

114.4 mi in | ~2h 18m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lincoln Highway 37 mi 42m
Northeast Hubbell Road 33.5 mi 39m
200th Avenue 32.4 mi 37m
73rd Street 26.8 mi 30m
Marion Airport Road 24.1 mi 27m
Great River Road 16.7 mi 22m
IA 100 9.4 mi 11m
John MacVicar Freeway 8.8 mi 11m
Longest stretch: Lincoln Highway — 37 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Bellevue, IA.

1

Start on Vine Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Vine Street
2

Turn left onto 4th Street

0.4 mi · 55 sec · 4th Street
3

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
4

Turn left onto 56th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 56th Street
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I-235 east
6

Merge onto I 235

8.8 mi · 11 min · John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 137A-B Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 80

3.4 mi · 3 min · I 80
10

Take the exit onto US 65

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 65
Exit 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn left onto US 65; IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12

Continue on US 65; IA 330

33 mi · 39 min · Northeast Hubbell Road
13

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
14

Merge onto US 30

37 mi · 42 min · Lincoln Highway
15

Continue on US 30

27 mi · 30 min · 73rd Street
16

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
17

Continue on IA 100

9.4 mi · 11 min · IA 100
18

Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100

5.9 mi · 7 min · Collins Road Northeast
19

Turn left onto US 151; IA 13

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 151; IA 13
20

Turn right onto US 151

24 mi · 27 min · Marion Airport Road
21

Continue on US 151

32 mi · 37 min · 200th Avenue
22

Keep slight left at fork onto US 151

3.5 mi · 4 min · US 151
23

Turn right onto US 52

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bellevue Road
24

Continue on US 52

9.1 mi · 12 min · Great River Road
25

Continue on US 52

0.5 mi · 54 sec · Main Street
26

Continue on US 52

7.6 mi · 10 min · Great River Road
27

Continue on US 52

2.5 mi · 4 min · North Riverview Street
28

Arrive at destination

US 52

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 47 miles or 59m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 106.1 miles or 2h 8m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 29m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellevue, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA

This is one driving day of about 212.3 miles and 4h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from West Des Moines, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 106.1 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 2h 8m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Rapids, IA

106 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

Marshalltown, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vinton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 106.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Bellevue, IA

The final approach into Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, 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

$33.19 one way

$66.38 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 74 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $36.44 $72.88
premium $4.89 $40.86 $81.71
diesel $5.61 $46.87 $93.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$58–$83

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 63.7 0 $22.29 $10.19
Efficient EV 53.1 0 $18.58 $8.49
EV Truck/SUV 84.9 1 $29.72 $13.59

Gas CO2

74 kg

EV CO2

25 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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

West Des Moines, IA

Afternoon in West Des Moines on Wednesday

Local time

4:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

84°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SSW 14 mph 32% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Bellevue, IA

Afternoon in Bellevue on Wednesday

Local time

4:54 PM

CDT

Current temp

78°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SW 10 mph 51% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

6 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

4h 20m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Bellevue, IA covers 212.3 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 200th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 212.3 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 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Des Moines, IA and Bellevue, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Bondurant and Marion.

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