Traveling from Algona to Des Moines covers 136.5 miles and typically takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfect for a straightforward day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly way to navigate through the heart of the Midwest. The path relies on local navigation, utilizing East McGregor Street and South Phillips Street before transitioning onto Highway 169. Since both cities are located within Iowa, you will remain in the same region throughout the drive, ensuring a consistent travel experience from start to finish.
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
68.2 miles from Algona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
54.5 mi
59m
US 20
30.7 mi
35m
Lincoln Avenue
30.1 mi
41m
South Phillips Street
6.4 mi
9m
US Highway 169
4 mi
5m
John MacVicar Freeway
4 mi
5m
13th Street South
1.3 mi
2m
13th Street North
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Algona, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on US 169
0.2 mi·35 sec·North Jones Street
2
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
0.3 mi·36 sec·East McGregor Street
3
Turn right onto US 169
0.5 mi·1 min·South Phillips Street
4
Continue on US 169
4.0 mi·5 min·US Highway 169
5
Continue on US 169
5.9 mi·8 min·South Phillips Street
6
Continue on US 169
0.5 mi·55 sec·120th Avenue
7
Continue on US 169
11 mi·15 min·Lincoln Avenue
8
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi·2 min·13th Street North
9
Continue on US 169
377 ft·8 sec·Lincoln Avenue
10
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi·2 min·13th Street South
11
Continue on US 169
19 mi·25 min·Lincoln Avenue
12
Turn left
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward US 20 East
13
Merge onto US 20
31 mi·35 min·US 20
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
15
Merge onto I 35
54 mi·59 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
17
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East VillageUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn AvenueUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi·34 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
21
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this 2-hour and 14-minute trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops to manage fatigue, as the duration is easy to tackle in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel budget of $21 is a baseline, so checking your vehicle's efficiency before departing Algona can help you estimate your actual costs. A practical tip for this specific drive is to familiarize yourself with the transitions between East McGregor Street, South Phillips Street, and Highway 169 before you leave. Staying mindful of these local road changes will ensure your transit toward Des Moines remains smooth and stress-free.
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 68.2 miles from Algona, IA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 30 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.2 miles or 1h 31m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Algona, 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 Algona, IA
This is one driving day of about 136.4 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Algona, 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 I 35 for about 54.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 44.2 and 135.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
44.2 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Turn left toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
5
76 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
130.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
135.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
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 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Ea...
8
135.7 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Aven...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.32 one way
$42.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.41
$46.83
premium
$4.89
$26.25
$52.50
diesel
$5.61
$30.12
$60.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.9
0
$14.32
$6.55
Efficient EV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
EV Truck/SUV
54.6
0
$19.10
$8.73
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Algona, IA
Night
in Algona on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Night
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
4 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul on this 136.5-mile journey. With zero percent of the route dedicated to high-speed interstates, your focus will be on navigating local roads and the primary highway connection. The experience feels more hands-on, requiring you to stay alert through the various turns along East McGregor Street and South Phillips Street. Because the route relies entirely on local roads and Highway 169, the pace is steady and reflects the character of rural Iowa transit. You will not find long, uninterrupted highway stretches here, so plan for a drive that demands steady attention to the road ahead.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.5 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 44.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
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 136.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 44.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 76 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), and a big annual arts festival that draws visitors from across Iowa and beyond.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 136.4 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 (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Des Moines, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 76 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 130.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Des Moines, IA before heading back.
