Britt to West Des Moines is 126.5 miles and takes about 2h 39m via I 35 and US 69, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from one Midwest locale to another. It’s a straightforward drive, mainly on major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick trip. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under three hours, this route is ideal for a same-day journey, offering minimal fuss and maximum efficiency.
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
63.3 miles from Britt, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m 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
9.4 mi
12m
190th Street
3.4 mi
5m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
Vine Street
0.4 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 West 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
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
12
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
13
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 2 hours and 39 minutes, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility or an earlier arrival. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a quick break or push through to your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 59-mile stretch on I 35, as services might be less frequent than in urban areas. The estimated fuel cost of $20 is a helpful budget guideline for this trip.
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 63.3 miles from Britt, IA, or about 1h 26m 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.3 miles or 1h 26m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West 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 126.5 miles and 2h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 124.7 — 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
4
9.8 mi into trip|~13m in|US 69 / Sage Avenue
Turn right onto US 69 / Sage Avenue
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
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.78 one way
$39.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.71
$43.43
premium
$4.89
$24.34
$48.69
diesel
$5.61
$27.93
$55.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.9
0
$13.28
$6.07
Efficient EV
31.6
0
$11.07
$5.06
EV Truck/SUV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Late night
in Britt on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 14 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
22 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 39m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of the journey on high-speed roads like I 35. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 59 miles on I 35, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While the primary character is highway, you will also use roads like Sage Avenue and US 69, which can offer a slightly different driving experience. Expect a largely uninterrupted journey with minimal need for complex navigation.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Sage Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 18 / US Highway 18.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 39m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 18 / US Highway 18): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (US 69 / Sage Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 59 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 9.8 miles (US 69 / Sage Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 55.4 miles (I 35): 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 West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
