If you are looking to travel from Des Moines to Garner, you are in for a straightforward 112.1-mile trek through the heart of the Midwest. Expect a drive time of roughly 2 hours and 19 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a estimated fuel cost of $17, the route is budget-friendly and efficient for those heading north. You will primarily utilize I-35 and US-69 to navigate between these two Iowa communities. Because the distance is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay, allowing for maximum flexibility in your schedule. This trip is designed for those who value practicality and a direct path over complex routing.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
54.3 mi
59m
US 69
25.9 mi
35m
Little Wall Lake Road
19.5 mi
26m
John MacVicar Freeway
4.8 mi
5m
US 20
3.3 mi
3m
220th Street
0.8 mi
1m
US 18
0.6 mi
1m
East University Avenue
0.6 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 Garner, 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
3.3 mi·3 min·US 20
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 69
10
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi·26 min·Little Wall Lake Road
11
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3
0.8 mi·1 min·220th Street
12
Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3
12 mi·17 min·US 69; IA 3
13
Continue on US 69
14 mi·18 min·US 69
14
At end of road, turn right onto US 18
0.6 mi·1 min·US 18
15
Turn right onto State Street
0.2 mi·42 sec·State Street
16
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
69 ft·1 sec·East 3rd Street
17
Arrive at destination
East 3rd Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a manageable two-hour drive, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever fits your morning routine best. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily pace the trip to suit your own comfort level. Keep in mind that while the 112.1-mile distance is short, it is always wise to double-check your fuel levels before leaving Des Moines to ensure you stay within your $17 budget. If you find yourself needing a break, look for opportunities to step off the highway as you transition from I-35 to US-69. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic near Des Moines will help ensure your time on the road stays as close to the 2-hour and 19-minute estimate as possible.
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 56 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 3m 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 25 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 3m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Garner, 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.
+
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 Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 112.1 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 112 — 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
5
112 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|East 3rd Street
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.53 one way
$35.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.24
$38.48
premium
$4.89
$21.57
$43.15
diesel
$5.61
$24.75
$49.50
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.77
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.81
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.69
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Des Moines, IA
Late night
in Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 14 mph2% 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
Destination
Garner, IA
Late night
in Garner on Tuesday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
35 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
2h 19m 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 highway-focused drive is defined by its efficiency, with 79% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 54.3 miles along I-35. The character of the road shifts from the busier interstate corridors near the capital toward the more consistent pace of US-69 as you head toward Garner. While the transition onto local connectors like Little Wall Lake Road adds variety, the overall personality of the route remains focused on steady progress. You should anticipate a predictable experience behind the wheel, characterized by wide lanes and clear visibility across the Iowa landscape.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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 69. 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 2h 19m drive. You will face about 12 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, 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 0.1 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 Garner, IA before heading back.
