The drive from West Des Moines, IA to George, IA covers 262.2 miles and takes about 5h 4m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 29, US 20 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.8 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.99 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
131.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 4m. Total distance: 262.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 4m highway drive covering 262.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 94.8 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 25 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 94.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
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 262.2 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 west
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-235 west
5
5 mi into trip|~7m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
99.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
116.5 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
5
189.2 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East, US 75 North: Fort Dodge, Le Mars
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, US 75 North: Fort Dodge, Le...
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 George, IA, road signs point toward Sioux City and Le Mars.
Sioux City
99.9 mi in|~1h 49m|via I 880
Le Mars
189.2 mi in|~3h 25m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
94.8 mi
1h 41m
I 29
72.2 mi
1h 17m
US 20
30.1 mi
36m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
IA 60
10.4 mi
12m
Jackson Avenue
8 mi
10m
County Road K64
7.4 mi
10m
L14
5.7 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and George, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
468 ft·14 sec·Vine Street
2
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·8th Street
3
Continue on 73rd Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·73rd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward I-235 westUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 235
3.3 mi·4 min·John MacVicar Freeway
6
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
9
Merge onto I 29
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 29
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 20 East, US 75 North: Fort Dodge, Le Mars
11
Merge onto US 20; US 75
30 mi·36 min·US 20; US 75
12
Continue on IA 60
10 mi·12 min·IA 60
Toward IA 60 North: SheldonUse the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto County Road K64
3.7 mi·5 min·County Road K64
14
Continue on Albany Place
0.5 mi·52 sec·Albany Place
15
Continue on Albany Avenue
1.9 mi·5 min·Albany Avenue
16
Continue on County Road K64
3.7 mi·5 min·County Road K64
17
Continue on CR K64
8.0 mi·10 min·Jackson Avenue
18
Turn right onto US 18
3.0 mi·4 min·320th Street
19
Turn left onto CR L14
0.5 mi·1 min·Colfax Street
20
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi·5 min·Kennedy Avenue
21
Continue on L14
5.7 mi·8 min·L14
22
Continue on South Virginia Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Virginia Street
23
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Boiler Avenue
24
Turn right onto South Main Street
377 ft·16 sec·South Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
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 131.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 58 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.1 miles or 2h 23m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near George, 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 262.2 miles and 5h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 94.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 131.1 mi from West Des Moines, IA
· 2h 23m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.99 one way
$81.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.01
$90.02
premium
$4.89
$50.46
$100.92
diesel
$5.61
$57.89
$115.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.7
0
$27.53
$12.59
Efficient EV
65.6
0
$22.94
$10.49
EV Truck/SUV
104.9
1
$36.71
$16.78
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Morning
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
8:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 10 to 14 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Destination
George, IA
Morning
in George on Saturday
Local time
8:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
38 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
5h 4m 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 George, IA covers 262.2 miles and takes about 5h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 29, US 20. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 131.1 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 $40.99 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 15 significant decision points across 262.2 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Des Moines, IA and George, IA, road signs point toward Sioux City and Le Mars.
