Origin
Altoona, IA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
9:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
17m
Distance
9.4 mi
15 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Altoona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short 13.2-mile drive from Altoona to Des Moines, Iowa, is estimated to take around 16 minutes, making it a perfect quick trip within the Midwest. You'll navigate through local streets like 8th Street Southwest, East Broadway Avenue, and Hubbell Avenue, with no highway driving involved. Given its brief duration, this route is ideal as a single-day excursion rather than requiring an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $2, reflecting the short distance. This drive offers a straightforward local experience connecting two points within Iowa.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hubbell Avenue | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| 8th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Guthrie Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Broadway Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue South | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Hubbell Avenue
— 3.3 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
48 ft
·
3 sec
·
1st Avenue South
2
Turn right onto US 6 Hist
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
8th Street Southwest
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on US 6 Hist
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Broadway Avenue
4
Turn slight left onto US 6
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Hubbell Avenue
5
Turn right onto Guthrie Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Guthrie Avenue
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I-235 west
7
Merge onto I 235
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
11
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 8.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest
Turn right onto US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
6.7 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Turn left toward I-235 west
Navigation decision point
Toward I-235 west
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~13m 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.
8
8.4 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
8.7 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
$1.47 one way
$2.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.61 | $3.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.81 | $3.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.08 | $4.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.99 | $0.45 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.82 | $0.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.32 | $0.60 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
9:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, covering 13.2 miles with a 0% highway share. The entire journey unfolds on city streets and local roads, meaning you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through neighborhoods and commercial areas. There's no 'longest stretch' here as it's a continuous series of shorter segments rather than open road. You'll experience the feel of a typical urban or suburban commute, with traffic signals and intersections playing a significant role throughout the 16-minute travel time.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.3 mi on Hubbell Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest.
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 9.4 miles you will encounter 7 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: near the start (US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Altoona, IA to Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Village along the way.
Village
8.4 mi in
|
~15m
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 17m. Total distance: 9.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.3 miles on Hubbell Avenue. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 6 Hist / 8th Street Southwest): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Des Moines, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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