Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Eagle Grove, IA

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

99.7 mi

161 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 53m ★

6 AM

2h 1m

8 AM

2h 19m

10 AM

2h 7m

12 PM

2h 6m

3 PM

2h 8m

5 PM

2h 18m

8 PM

1h 56m

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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West Des Moines, IA

Daniel Dorfer

Eagle Grove, IA

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Eagle Grove, IA covers 99.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35, US 20, John MacVicar Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.3 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.14 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

49.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 2h 1m highway drive covering 99.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.3 miles on I 35.

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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,188 ft 814 ft

Total Climb

840 ft

Total Descent

550 ft

Highest Point

1,188 ft

~62.3 mi in

Elevation Range

373 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 99.7 miles you will encounter 12 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 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 points

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

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

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / none lanes.

1.3 mi into trip | ~2m in | 56th Street

Turn left onto 56th Street

Navigation decision point

1.9 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward I-235 east

Navigation decision point

Toward I-235 east

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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

67.2 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | US 20

Merge onto US 20

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

Use the none lane.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 35	54.3 mi	59m
US 20	16.8 mi	19m
John MacVicar Freeway	10.3 mi	13m
Stagecoach Road	7.4 mi	11m
State Highway 17	6.7 mi	9m
South Commercial Avenue	0.8 mi	1m
Grand Avenue	0.7 mi	1m
56th Street	0.6 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 Eagle Grove, IA.

Start on Vine Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Vine Street

Turn left onto 4th Street

0.4 mi · 55 sec · 4th Street

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grand Avenue

Use the left / none lanes.

Turn left onto 56th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 56th Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward I-235 east

Merge onto I 235

10 mi · 13 min · John MacVicar Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 35

54 mi · 59 min · I 35

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 56 sec

Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge

Merge onto US 20

17 mi · 19 min · US 20

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward IA 17 North

Turn right onto IA 17

1.5 mi · 2 min · Stagecoach Road

At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20

0.4 mi · 38 sec · 220th Street

Turn right onto IA 17

5.9 mi · 8 min · Stagecoach Road

Continue on IA 17

6.7 mi · 9 min · State Highway 17

Continue on South Commercial Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Commercial Avenue

Turn right onto West Broadway Street

30 ft · 1 sec · West Broadway Street

Arrive at destination

West Broadway Street

Trip Plan

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 49.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 58m 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 49.9 miles or 58m 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eagle Grove, 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 99.7 miles and 2h 1m.

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.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

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 49.9 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

50 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

Ames, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Eagle Grove, IA

The final approach into Eagle Grove, 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 Eagle Grove, 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

$15.14 one way

$30.29 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 35 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$16.69	$33.39
premium	$4.80	$18.82	$37.64
diesel	$5.64	$22.15	$44.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	29.9	$10.47	$4.79
Efficient EV	24.9	$8.72	$3.99
EV Truck/SUV	39.9	$13.96	$6.38

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

West Des Moines, IA

Afternoon in West Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

2:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SE 14 mph 56% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 16 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Eagle Grove, IA

Afternoon in Eagle Grove on Sunday

Local time

2:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SE 17 mph 59% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 16 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00AM 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

2h 1m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Eagle Grove, IA covers 99.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m 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 49.9 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 $15.14 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.

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 Eagle Grove, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 814 ft to 1,188 ft elevation with about 840 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Eagle Grove, IA to West Des Moines, IA

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99.6 mi 2h 1m

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Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Eagle Grove, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Eagle Grove, IA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

West Des Moines, IA

Eagle Grove, IA

Same local time

6 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 1m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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