This straightforward 93.8-mile drive from Des Moines to Eagle Grove, Iowa, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking just under 2 hours. Predominantly highway, you'll spend about 88% of your time on main roads like I-35 and US-20. The estimated fuel cost is around $14, making it an economical journey. This route stays within the Midwest, offering a consistent driving experience as you head north. With no designated stops in the data, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous breaks or push through to your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
54.3 mi
59m
US 20
16.8 mi
19m
Stagecoach Road
7.4 mi
11m
State Highway 17
6.7 mi
9m
John MacVicar Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
East University Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
220th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Eagle Grove, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft·39 sec·East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·East University Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 69
0.4 mi·57 sec·East 14th Street
4
Take the ramp
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet
5
Merge onto I 235
4.8 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 35
54 mi·59 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
8
Merge onto US 20
17 mi·19 min·US 20
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward IA 17 North
10
Turn right onto IA 17
1.5 mi·2 min·Stagecoach Road
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20
0.4 mi·38 sec·220th Street
12
Turn right onto IA 17
5.9 mi·8 min·Stagecoach Road
13
Continue on IA 17
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 17
14
Continue on South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Commercial Avenue
15
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
30 ft·1 sec·West Broadway Street
16
Arrive at destination
West Broadway Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of only 1 hour and 53 minutes, this trip from Des Moines to Eagle Grove is perfect for a spontaneous outing. You can easily depart at your convenience, whether it's a morning start to maximize your day or an afternoon departure. The estimated fuel cost of $14 is minimal, so you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Given the relatively short distance and the longest stretch being 54.3 miles on I-35, pacing isn't a major concern, but keep an eye on road conditions, especially if traveling during inclement weather.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.9 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.3 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 21 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eagle Grove, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Moines, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 93.8 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 54.3 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 0.1 and 78.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
6
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STree...
5
1.8 mi into trip|~4m 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.
4
60.9 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
4
78.1 mi into trip|~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward IA 17 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 17 North
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.66 one way
$29.33 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.10
$32.20
premium
$4.89
$18.05
$36.10
diesel
$5.61
$20.71
$41.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.1
0
$9.85
$4.50
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
EV Truck/SUV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 20, 2026
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Late night
in Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
3:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Eagle Grove, IA
Late night
in Eagle Grove on Tuesday
Local time
3:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°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
3 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
1h 53m 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 highway-focused drive for the majority of this 93.8-mile trip. You'll primarily be on I-35 and US-20, which are designed for efficiency. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 54.3 miles on I-35, allowing for sustained cruising. While the route is predominantly highway, the inclusion of Stagecoach Road suggests a brief transition to a more local road experience closer to Eagle Grove. Overall, this drive offers a predictable and fast-paced journey through the heart of Iowa.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.3 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 53m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 54.3 miles on I 35. 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: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 1 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 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 Eagle Grove, IA before heading back.
