Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Late night in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Britt, IA
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
2h 39m
Distance
126.9 mi
204 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Britt, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from West Des Moines, IA, to Britt, IA? This 126.9-mile drive will take you approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated around $20, it's an economical option for a single day trip within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes I-35 and US-69, offering a straightforward path. You'll experience a mostly highway-focused drive, making it easy to cover the distance efficiently. Given the relatively short duration and distance, this route is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach Britt with plenty of time to spare.
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
63.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 81% of the route utilizing them. Expect a fairly consistent pace for most of the journey, especially during the longest stretch of 54.3 miles on I-35. While it's a highway-focused profile, you will transition to roads like US-69 and Little Wall Lake Road, which may offer a slightly different driving experience as you approach your destination. The bulk of the travel involves straightforward driving, minimizing complex navigation and allowing you to maintain a steady momentum.
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 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 54.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (56th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese 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.
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
56th Street
Turn left onto 56th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 east
Navigation decision point
Toward I-235 east
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.
5
117.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
|
US 18; US 69
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 54.3 mi | 59m |
| US 69 | 25.9 mi | 35m |
| Little Wall Lake Road | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| US 18 | 9.5 mi | 13m |
| US 20 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| 220th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Britt, 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
10 mi
·
13 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
54 mi
·
59 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
9
Merge onto US 20
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 20
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward US 69
11
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Little Wall Lake Road
12
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
220th Street
13
Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3
12 mi
·
17 min
·
US 69; IA 3
14
Continue on US 69
14 mi
·
18 min
·
US 69
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 18; US 69
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
US 18; US 69
16
Turn left onto Main Avenue North
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Main Avenue North
17
Arrive at destination
Main Avenue North
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 39-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from West Des Moines to maximize your day in Britt. With a total distance of 126.9 miles, you'll likely only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The $20 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to check current prices. Keep an eye out for the transition from I-35 to US-69, as this is where the character of the drive begins to shift. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your schedule as needed.
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 63.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.5 miles or 1h 13m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Britt, 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 126.9 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 I 35 for about 54.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 63.5 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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
Arriving in Britt, IA
The final approach into Britt, 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 Britt, 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
$19.84 one way
$39.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.78 | $43.57 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.42 | $48.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.02 | $56.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.1 | 0 | $13.32 | $6.09 |
| Efficient EV | 31.7 | 0 | $11.10 | $5.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.77 | $8.12 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Britt, IA
Late night in Britt on Wednesday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
28 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 39m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Britt, IA covers 126.9 miles and takes about 2h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 69, Little Wall Lake Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 63.5 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 $19.84 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 straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (56th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Britt, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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