Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
2:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Sumner, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 24m
Distance
152.6 mi
246 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 13m
★
6 AM
3h 25m
8 AM
3h 49m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 31m
3 PM
3h 35m
5 PM
3h 48m
8 PM
3h 18m
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
Sumner, IA
Josef Traxler
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Sumner, IA covers 152.6 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 4th Street, Grand Avenue, 56th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.86 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
76.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 24m drive with frequent turns across 152.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
4th 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Sumner, IA is easy. At 3h 24m 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 Sumner, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 56th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-235 east | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John MacVicar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 6 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
4th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Sumner, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Vine Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
4th Street
3
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
4
Turn left onto 56th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
56th Street
5
Take the ramp right toward I-235 east
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I-235 east
6
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80 East: Davenport
9
Merge slight left
3.4 mi
·
3 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
11
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Turn left onto Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
14
Continue on South Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
15
Continue on 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
16
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
17
Turn right onto 240th Street
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 N Avenue
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
22
Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 20 East: Waterloo
23
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
12 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
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 the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Greenhill Road
7 ft
·
Greenhill Road
28
Exit the roundabout onto Greenhill Road
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Greenhill Road
29
Turn left onto Avenue of the Saints
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
30
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 South: Waterloo
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218 South: Waterloo
31
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
32
Take the exit slight right toward Broadway Street: Airport
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway Street: Airport
33
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
34
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
35
Turn left onto Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
36
Continue on Larrabee Avenue
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
37
Turn right onto 170th Street
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
170th Street
38
Continue on 7th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
7th Avenue Southwest
39
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
40
Continue on Piedmont Avenue
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Piedmont Avenue
41
Continue on 140th Street
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
140th Street
42
Continue on West 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West 1st Street
43
Arrive at your destination
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 76.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 42m 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.3 miles or 1h 42m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sumner, 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 152.6 miles and 3h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 76.3 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 76.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Sumner, IA
The final approach into Sumner, 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 Sumner, 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
$23.86 one way
$47.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $26.19 | $52.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.37 | $58.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.69 | $67.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.8 | 0 | $16.02 | $7.32 |
| Efficient EV | 38.2 | 0 | $13.35 | $6.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61 | 0 | $21.36 | $9.77 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Sumner, IA
Afternoon in Sumner on Wednesday
Local time
2:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
76 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
17 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
3h 24m 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 Sumner, IA covers 152.6 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 4th Street, Grand Avenue, 56th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.3 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 $23.86 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Sumner, IA is easy. At 3h 24m 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 Sumner, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Sumner, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Explore more options from West Des Moines, IA or browse trips ending in Sumner, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for West Des Moines, IA or Sumner, IA on MapSof.net.