West Des Moines to Hampton is 100 miles and takes about 1 hour 57 minutes via I 35 and State Highway 3, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving you from the Midwest region of West Des Moines north to Hampton. Given its relatively short distance and primarily highway focus, this is a straightforward, same-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained interstates and state highways, making for an efficient journey. Plan this for a day when you want to get somewhere quickly without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 100 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 96% of the drive on major roads. You'll experience a consistent, fast pace for most of the 100 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 77.1 miles on I 35, meaning you can settle in for a significant portion of the drive without many turns or slowdowns. This highway-centric profile suggests a journey where efficiency is key, with minimal time spent on slower, local roads. Expect a smooth and direct experience, typical of interstate travel across the Midwest.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 77.1 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,266 ft825 ft
Total Climb
589 ft
Total Descent
271 ft
Highest Point
1,266 ft
~92.9 mi in
Elevation Range
441 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 8 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 8 key points
These 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
89.7 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from West Des Moines, IA to Hampton, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Clarion along the way.
Clarion
89.7 mi in|~1h 41m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
77.1 mi
1h 23m
John MacVicar Freeway
10.3 mi
13m
State Highway 3
8.9 mi
12m
Central Avenue West
1 mi
2m
Grand Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
56th Street
0.6 mi
1m
4th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Vine Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 77.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Hampton, 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
77 mi·1 hr 23 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
9
Turn right onto IA 3
8.9 mi·12 min·State Highway 3
10
Continue on IA 3
1.0 mi·2 min·Central Avenue West
11
Turn left onto US 65
27 ft·0 sec·4th Street Northeast
12
Arrive at destination
US 65
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 100-mile trip that takes under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving West Des Moines in the morning will get you to Hampton well before lunch. The longest stretch on I 35 is over 77 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you embark on that segment. While there are no designated stops mentioned, you'll find ample opportunities for rest and fuel along I 35 as it's a major artery. Given the low fuel cost estimate of $16, budget a little extra for a coffee or snack along the way.
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 50 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.1 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 100 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from West Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 77.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 50 mi from West Des Moines, IA
· 58m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Efficient EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
EV Truck/SUV
40
0
$14.00
$6.40
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Evening
in West Des Moines on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hampton, IA
Evening
in Hampton on Friday
Local time
6:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
5 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
1h 57m 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 Hampton, IA covers 100 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, John MacVicar Freeway, State Highway 3. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50 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 $15.63 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 8 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.
On the drive from West Des Moines, IA to Hampton, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Clarion along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 825 ft to 1,266 ft elevation with about 589 ft of total climbing.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
