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Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Webster City, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 35m

Distance

81.1 mi

131 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties, Iowa, United States

West Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Iowa, United States

Webster City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Webster City, IA covers 81.1 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 35, US 20, John MacVicar Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 54.3 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.68 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.

Midpoint

40.6 miles from West Des Moines, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 81.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 35m highway drive covering 81.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 54.3 miles on I 35.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 54.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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 10 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.
4
66.9 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 35 54.3 mi 59m
US 20 12.3 mi 14m
John MacVicar Freeway 10.3 mi 13m
Superior Street 1.3 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 — 54.3 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Webster City, 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

54 mi · 59 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
9

Merge onto US 20

12 mi · 14 min · US 20
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward IA 17 South
11

Turn right onto Superior Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Superior Street
12

Turn left onto CR D20

60 ft · 1 sec · 2nd Street
13

Arrive at destination

CR D20

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.6 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 18 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 40.6 miles or 48m 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 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Webster City, 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 81.1 miles and 1h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 54.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.6 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 48m into the drive

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ankeny, IA

41 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

Ankeny, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.6 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Webster City, IA

The final approach into Webster City, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Olympic Flame Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des Moines, Iowa

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 5.8

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15152434361

Visit website

HoQ Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des Moines, Iowa

0.7 mi

Tumea & Sons Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des Moines, Iowa

1.4 mi

Olympic Flame Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 5.8

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15152434361

Visit website

HoQ Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $30 to $50 mile 5.8

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 5–9 pm

+15152441213

Visit website

Tumea & Sons Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30 mile 5.8

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15152827976

Visit website

El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15152262182

Visit website

Tsing Tsao Chinese Fast Food

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour Inexpensiv mile 5.8

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+15152622775

Visit website

Burger Shed Restaurant Altoona

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 11.6

Altoona, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15156307433

Visit website

Tullpa Restaurant

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $20 to $30

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+15152142327

Visit website

Mi Mexico Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Clive, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+15152226933

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 81.1

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 34.8

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 81.1

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 34.8

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 34.8

Ames, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 34.8

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 34.8

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 40.6

Ames, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Discover Ames

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 34.8

Ames, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4:30 pm

+15152324032

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.68 one way

$25.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.92 $27.84
premium $4.89 $15.61 $31.21
diesel $5.61 $17.91 $35.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.3 0 $8.52 $3.89
Efficient EV 20.3 0 $7.10 $3.24
EV Truck/SUV 32.4 0 $11.35 $5.19

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% 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 17, 2026

Origin

West Des Moines, IA

Night in West Des Moines on Friday

Local time

11:30 PM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 8 to 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Webster City, IA

Night in Webster City on Friday

Local time

11:30 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°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

14 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 35m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Webster City, IA covers 81.1 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 35, US 20, John MacVicar Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 40.6 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 $12.68 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 81.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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.

The route from West Des Moines, IA to Webster City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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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