Origin
Des Moines, IA
Morning in Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
7:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to Eddyville, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
69.1 mi
111 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Eddyville, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Des Moines to Eddyville is 69.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 27 minutes via East University Avenue, with a fuel budget near $11 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 local drive with frequent turns, rather than an open highway experience. With just under an hour and a half of driving time, this is a straightforward route for a single-day excursion. You won't encounter any major highway miles, so plan for a more town-focused journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East University Avenue | 65.5 mi | 1h 21m |
| Northeast University Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Merino Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Walnut Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
East University Avenue
— 65.5 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Eddyville, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft
·
39 sec
·
East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
9.1 mi
·
16 min
·
East University Avenue
3
Continue on IA 163
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast University Avenue
4
Continue on IA 163
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
East University Avenue
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
6
Turn right onto Merino Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Merino Avenue
7
Turn right onto Walnut Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Walnut Street
8
Arrive at destination
Walnut Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.6 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East University Avenue if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 68.7 — 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
3
67.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
Merino Avenue
Turn right onto Merino Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
Walnut Street
Turn right onto Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.80 one way
$21.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.86 | $23.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.30 | $26.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.26 | $30.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.26 | $3.32 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.67 | $4.42 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Eddyville, IA
Morning in Eddyville on Tuesday
Local time
7:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Monroe, IA
35 mi in
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 27m 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?
This route is characterized by its frequent turns, making it a decidedly local drive. With 0% highway share, you'll be navigating city streets and county roads for the entirety of the 69.1 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 65.5 miles on East University Avenue, offering a brief period of uninterrupted driving before the turns resume. This type of profile means you should anticipate a dynamic driving experience, with varying speed limits and the need for constant attention to navigation.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.5 mi on East University Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Eddyville, IA is easy. At 1h 27m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 67.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 67.7 miles (Merino Avenue): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →Founded 1843
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
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 1h 27m. Total distance: 69.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.5 miles on East University 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: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 67.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 67.7 miles (Merino Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Eddyville, 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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