Britt to Des Moines is 120.3 miles and takes about 2h 30m via I 35 and US 69, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a straightforward drive that’s mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. It’s a good choice if you're looking for an easy, no-fuss drive between these two points, ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
60.2 miles from Britt, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
59 mi
1h 4m
Sage Avenue
26.7 mi
36m
US 69
15 mi
20m
US Highway 18
9.5 mi
13m
John MacVicar Freeway
4 mi
5m
190th Street
3.4 mi
5m
Main Avenue North
0.3 mi
<1m
Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 59 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Britt, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Main Avenue North
0.3 mi·38 sec·Main Avenue North
2
Turn right onto US 18
9.5 mi·13 min·US Highway 18
3
Turn right onto US 69
27 mi·36 min·Sage Avenue
4
Turn left onto US 69
15 mi·20 min·US 69
5
Turn left onto CR D20
3.4 mi·5 min·190th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward Somerset Road
7
Merge onto I 35
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
9
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East VillageUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn AvenueUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi·34 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
13
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive of just 2.5 hours, this route offers considerable flexibility for when you depart. Leaving Britt in the morning or early afternoon should give you ample time to reach Des Moines without feeling rushed. Since the longest stretch on I 35 is 59 miles, plan for a potential stop around the halfway mark if you prefer to break up the driving, though it's not strictly necessary for such a short trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Des Moines, as services can sometimes be more spread out between the smaller towns on US 69.
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 60.2 miles from Britt, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 23m 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 5m
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 Britt, 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 Britt, IA
This is one driving day of about 120.3 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Britt, 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 59 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 0.3 and 119.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 18 / US Highway 18
Turn right onto US 18 / US Highway 18
Navigation decision point
5
55.4 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
114.5 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 28m 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
119.7 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
$18.81 one way
$37.62 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.65
$41.30
premium
$4.89
$23.15
$46.30
diesel
$5.61
$26.56
$53.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.1
0
$12.63
$5.77
Efficient EV
30.1
0
$10.53
$4.81
EV Truck/SUV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 18, 2026
Origin
Britt, IA
Morning
in Britt on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 14 mph2% chanceLive 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
21 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
2h 30m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 73% of the route on faster roads like I 35. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 59 miles on I 35, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the main roads are interstates and US highways, there are also segments on local roads like Sage Avenue, which may offer a slight change in scenery and speed. Overall, it’s a practical drive designed for efficient travel between your starting and ending points.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Sage Avenue. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 18 / US Highway 18.
Driving Effort5/10
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 120.3 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 0.3 miles (US 18 / US Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.5 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.
Top landmarks
•Iowa State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Iowa
•St. Ambrose Cathedral — church in Iowa, United States
•Des Moines Art Center — art museum in Des Moines, Iowa
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 120.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 18 / US Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 114.5 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.
