Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
11:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Pocahontas, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 48m
Distance
125.8 mi
203 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 38m
★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m
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
Pocahontas, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Pocahontas, IA covers 125.8 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 8th Street, 73rd Street, I-235 west for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.67 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
62.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 125.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 48m drive with frequent turns across 125.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
8th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Pocahontas, IA is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Des Moines, IA to Pocahontas, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Street | — | — |
| 73rd Street | — | — |
| I-235 west | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| I 35 North | — | — |
| I-35 north | — | — |
| IA 141 West | — | — |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
8th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Pocahontas, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
469 ft
·
15 sec
·
Vine Street
2
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
3
Continue on 73rd Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
73rd Street
4
Take the ramp left toward I-235 west
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I-235 west
5
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North, I 80 East: Minneapolis, Chicago
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
I 35 North, I 80 East: Minneapolis, Chicago
7
Merge slight left onto I-35 north, I-80 east: Chicago, Minneapolis
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I-35 north, I-80 east: Chicago, Minneapolis
8
Take the exit slight right toward IA 141 West: Grimes
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 141 West: Grimes
9
Merge slight left onto Southeast Grimes Boulevard
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
10
Continue on Northeast Grimes Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
11
Continue on Northwest 114th Street
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
12
Continue on Northwest Granger Drive
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
13
Take the exit straight toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 169: Ogden, Adel
14
Turn right onto N Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
15
Continue on H Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
H Avenue
16
Turn left onto 320th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
320th Street
17
Turn right onto G Avenue
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
G Avenue
18
Turn left onto 220th Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
220th Street
19
Turn right onto D Avenue
12 mi
·
16 min
·
D Avenue
20
Continue on Paragon Avenue
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Paragon Avenue
21
Turn left onto 360th Street
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
360th Street
22
Turn right onto Lainson Avenue
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Lainson Avenue
23
Turn left onto US 20 West
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
US 20 West
24
Merge slight left
24 mi
·
27 min
25
Take the exit slight right toward IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas
26
Turn right onto Marshall Avenue
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Marshall Avenue
27
Keep slight left to continue on Marshall Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Marshall Avenue
28
Continue on Marengo Avenue
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marengo Avenue
29
Continue on South East Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South East Street
30
Continue on Marengo Avenue
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Marengo Avenue
31
Continue on 220th Avenue
11 mi
·
15 min
·
220th Avenue
32
Continue on Southwest 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Southwest 7th Street
33
Turn right onto West Elm Avenue
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Elm Avenue
34
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
North Main Street
35
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Northwest
72 ft
·
3 sec
·
3rd Avenue Northwest
36
Arrive at your destination
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 62.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
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 62.9 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pocahontas, 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 125.8 miles and 2h 48m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.9 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 62.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pocahontas, IA
The final approach into Pocahontas, 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 Pocahontas, 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
$19.67 one way
$39.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.59 | $43.19 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.21 | $48.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.78 | $55.55 |
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 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.21 | $6.04 |
| Efficient EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.01 | $5.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.3 | 0 | $17.61 | $8.05 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Destination
Pocahontas, IA
Morning in Pocahontas on Thursday
Local time
11:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Centerville, IA
63 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
19 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
2h 48m 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 Pocahontas, IA covers 125.8 miles and takes about 2h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 8th Street, 73rd Street, I-235 west. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.9 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 $19.67 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.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Pocahontas, IA is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from West Des Moines, IA to Pocahontas, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Pocahontas, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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