Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
9:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Denver, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
128.2 mi
206 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 46m
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
Denver, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Denver, IA covers 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, US 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.04 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
64.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 128.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 52m drive with frequent turns across 128.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast Hubbell Road is the longest continuous segment at about 35.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 128.2 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 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): 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; at 11.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 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.
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
8
15 mi into trip
|
~21m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
7
114 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 185
Toward US 218 South: Waterloo
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 Denver, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Bondurant, Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.
Council Bluffs
11 mi in
|
~16m
Davenport
11 mi in
|
~16m
Bondurant
15 mi in
|
~21m
|
via US 65
Cr D18: Cedar Falls
105.2 mi in
|
~2h 17m
Broadway Street: Airport
115.6 mi in
|
~2h 33m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| US 20 | 11.2 mi | 12m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 8.8 mi | 11m |
| Logan Avenue | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| N Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Denver, 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
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80
10
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 65
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
14
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
15
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
16
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
17
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
18
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
19
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
20
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
21
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
22
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
23
Merge onto US 20
11 mi
·
12 min
·
US 20
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
25
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
26
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
27
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
8 ft
·
0 sec
·
Greenhill Road
28
Continue on Greenhill Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Greenhill Road
29
Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
30
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 185
Toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Use the slight right lane.
31
Merge onto US 218
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward Broadway Street: Airport
33
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
34
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
35
Turn left onto US 63
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
36
Continue on US 63
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
37
Turn right onto State Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
38
Turn left onto CR C50
40 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Fayette Street
39
Arrive at destination
CR C50
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 64.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 22m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Denver, 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 128.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.1 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.1 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Denver, IA
The final approach into Denver, 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 Denver, 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
$20.04 one way
$40.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.01 | $44.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.67 | $49.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.30 | $56.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.46 | $6.15 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.22 | $5.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.95 | $8.20 |
Gas CO2
45 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
Denver, IA
Morning in Denver on Saturday
Local time
9:00 AM
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
2h 52m 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 Denver, IA covers 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Hubbell Road, Sanford Avenue, US 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.1 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 $20.04 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 28 significant decision points across 128.2 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 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): 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; at 11.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between West Des Moines, IA and Denver, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Bondurant, Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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