Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Evening in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
6:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Cresco, IA
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
194.5 mi
313 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Des Moines, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Cresco, IA
DS stories
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Cresco, IA covers 194.5 miles and takes about 3h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 4th Street, Grand Avenue, 56th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.54 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
97.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 55m drive with frequent turns across 194.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
4th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Des Moines, IA to Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 56th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-235 east | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John MacVicar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 18 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 218 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Monroe Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
4th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Cresco, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Vine Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
4th Street
3
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
4
Turn left onto 56th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
56th Street
5
Take the ramp right toward I-235 east
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I-235 east
6
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
10 mi
·
13 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
7
Continue straight
102 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
9
Merge slight left
30 mi
·
35 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 218, CR T44: Floyd
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218, CR T44: Floyd
11
Turn left onto Monroe Street
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Monroe Street
12
Turn right onto State Highway 9
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 9
13
Continue on Highway 9
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 9
14
Continue on West Main Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
15
Continue on State Highway 9
21 mi
·
28 min
·
State Highway 9
16
Continue on 2nd Avenue Southwest
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
17
Turn left onto 3rd Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
3rd Street Southwest
18
Continue on 3rd Street West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street West
19
Turn right onto 8th Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue West
20
Arrive at your destination
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 97.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.3 miles or 1h 57m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresco, 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 194.5 miles and 3h 55m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 97.3 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 Cresco, IA
The final approach into Cresco, 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 Cresco, 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
$29.54 one way
$59.09 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $32.57 | $65.13 |
| premium | $4.80 | $36.72 | $73.44 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $43.21 | $86.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.3 | 0 | $20.42 | $9.34 |
| Efficient EV | 48.6 | 0 | $17.02 | $7.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.8 | 0 | $27.23 | $12.45 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Cresco, IA
Evening in Cresco on Sunday
Local time
6:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
3 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
3h 55m 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 Cresco, IA covers 194.5 miles and takes about 3h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 4th Street, Grand Avenue, 56th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.3 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 $29.54 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Des Moines, IA to Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Cresco, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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