Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
38m
Distance
18.2 mi
29 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlisle, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Ottawa, IA
RUIQING BI
Carlisle to Ottawa is 18.2 miles and takes about 38 minutes via County Road S23 and IA 5, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Iowa's Midwest region, offering a straightforward connection between two points. Given its brief duration, this route is ideal for a quick errand, a short scenic detour, or extending a longer trip without significant time commitment. Expect mostly surface roads, making it a relaxed drive suitable for any day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| County Road S23 | 8.6 mi | 15m |
| IA 5 | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 92 | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| 168th Avenue | 2 mi | 8m |
| McKinley Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| 158th Avenue | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street East | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Carlisle, IA and Ottawa, IA.
Start on North 5th Street
Turn left onto IA 5
Turn right onto CR S23
At end of road, turn right onto IA 92
Continue on IA 92
Continue on IA 92
Turn left onto CR S23
Continue on 168th Avenue
Turn right onto McKinley Street
Continue on 158th Avenue
Arrive at destination
4 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 16.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto CR S23 / County Road S23
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto IA 92 / State Highway 92
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto CR S23 / County Road S23
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto McKinley Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.03 one way
$6.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $3.30 | $6.59 |
| premium | $5.18 | $3.71 | $7.43 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $3.83 | $7.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Carlisle on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Ottawa on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Your drive will cover 18.2 miles, with 29% on highways and the rest on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 8.6 miles on County Road S23. Expect to transition from highway cruising to navigating local roads relatively quickly. The profile is mostly surface roads, indicating a more rural or town-centric driving experience for a significant portion of your trip.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near CR S23 / County Road S23.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 38m drive. You will face about 4 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles (CR S23 / County Road S23): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (IA 92 / State Highway 92): Navigation decision point; at 13.6 miles (CR S23 / County Road S23): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
418 ft
Total Descent
450 ft
Highest Point
935 ft
~13 mi in
Elevation Range
146 ft
Founded 1851
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 38m. Total distance: 18.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (29%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Carlisle, IA or browse trips ending in Ottawa, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
