Carlisle, IA Road Trips
Drivers starting from Carlisle, IA have 2 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Midwest. Most drives stay under 22 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Routes from Carlisle, IA spread mainly south and west, covering a wide geographic range.
Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
210.5 mi
Sioux City, IA
Quickest Drive
38m
Ottawa, IA
Plan Around Carlisle, IA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Carlisle, IA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Carlisle, IA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Carlisle, IA
Driving from Carlisle, IA
Expect an average of 22 miles and about 39m behind the wheel when leaving Carlisle, IA. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 26 miles (41m), while the shortest is just 18 miles.
Popular Destinations
The most popular drives from Carlisle, IA include West Saint Marys, IA (25.7 mi, 41m) and Ottawa, IA (18.2 mi, 38m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in IA currently averages around $3.91 per gallon. For the typical 22-mile trip from Carlisle, IA, budget about $4 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving Carlisle, IA and 3 routes heading into Carlisle, IA, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 18 to 26 miles.
The longest mapped route from Carlisle, IA covers 26 miles and takes approximately 41m. Shorter options start at just 18 miles.
The average route from Carlisle, IA runs about 22 miles with a drive time of roughly 39m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.91/gallon for regular), the average 22-mile trip from Carlisle, IA costs roughly $4 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Carlisle, IA include West Saint Marys, IA and Ottawa, IA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Carlisle, IA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
4,187
Median Income
$98,333
Median Home Value
$208,100
Median Age
37.0
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Carlisle, IA at a Glance
Founded
1851
Elevation
853 ft
Area
6 mi²
City data from Wikidata (Q388767), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Carlisle, IA
Carlisle is a small town outside of Des Moines in the state of Iowa. It has a nice swimming pool, a couple of parks and a good choice of shops.
KAJAC Record Corp.. historic landmark (updated Oct 2020)
1 Carlisle Water Park. (updated Oct 2020)
1 Summerset Trail. Hike and Bike trail. Terminus in Carlisle. (updated Oct 2020)
Travel tips adapted from Carlisle (Iowa) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Carlisle, IA
Nearby Hubs
Other cities within driving distance of Carlisle, IA that also have route pages.
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Where to go from Carlisle, IA?
Curated day trips, weekend getaways, and overnight routes — grouped by how much time you have and the kind of trip you want.
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