Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Ely, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 32m
Distance
131.7 mi
212 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 22m
★
6 AM
2h 32m
8 AM
2h 53m
10 AM
2h 39m
12 PM
2h 37m
3 PM
2h 40m
5 PM
2h 52m
8 PM
2h 26m
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
Ely, IA
Yusuf Çelik
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Ely, IA covers 131.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Avenue of the Saints, John MacVicar Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.4 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.59 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
65.8 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 131.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 32m highway drive covering 131.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. The longest continuous stretch is about 100.4 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 100.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. 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.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 131.7 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 15 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.
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
6
112.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
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 Ely, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Waterloo.
Council Bluffs
11 mi in
|
~16m
Davenport
11 mi in
|
~16m
Waterloo
112.4 mi in
|
~2h 6m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 100.4 mi | 1h 48m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 13 mi | 14m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Wright Brothers Boulevard Southwest | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| State Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 56th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 4th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 100.4 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Ely, 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
100 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
I 80
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
12
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Toward The Eastern Iowa Airport, Ely
14
Turn right onto Wright Brothers Boulevard Southwest
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Wright Brothers Boulevard Southwest
15
Turn right onto CR W6E
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Ely Road
16
Continue on CR W6E
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
17
Turn left onto Dows Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Dows Street
18
Arrive at destination
Dows 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.8 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.4 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.8 miles or 1h 15m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ely, 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 131.7 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 80 for about 100.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.8 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.8 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.4 miles.
Arriving in Ely, IA
The final approach into Ely, 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 Ely, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.59 one way
$41.18 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.61 | $45.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.34 | $50.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.08 | $58.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.52 | $5.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.44 | $8.43 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% 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
Ely, IA
Afternoon in Ely on Thursday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
66 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
3 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 32m 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 Ely, IA covers 131.7 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Avenue of the Saints, 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 65.8 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 $20.59 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 demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 131.7 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 Ely, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Waterloo.
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