Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 42m
Distance
198 mi
319 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Maquoketa, IA
Diego F. Parra
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Maquoketa, IA covers 198 miles and takes about 3h 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, North Brady Street, John MacVicar Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 157.4 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
99 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 157.4 mi | 2h 50m |
| North Brady Street | 32.5 mi | 37m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| South Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East University Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 200th Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East 14th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 61 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,993 veh/hr typical · worst 2,386
Quietest
2 AM
~203 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Maquoketa, IA.
Start on East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Turn right onto US 69
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 235
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit onto US 61
Merge onto US 61
Take the exit
Turn right onto 200th Avenue
Continue on South Main Street
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99 miles or 1h 50m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Maquoketa, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 198 miles and 3h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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.
A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 99 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 I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 157.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 5.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Take the ramp toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$30.70 one way
$61.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $33.66 | $67.32 |
| premium | $4.93 | $38.42 | $76.83 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $43.65 | $87.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.79 | $9.50 |
| Efficient EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.33 | $7.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.2 | 0 | $27.72 | $12.67 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Late night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 5:31AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Late night in Maquoketa on Saturday
Local time
3:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Sunny
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 5:31AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
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.
198 mi in 3h 42m, mostly highway — 157.4 mi of that is on I 80.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and North Brady Street. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 198 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
256 ft
Total Descent
424 ft
Highest Point
989 ft
~56.6 mi in
Elevation Range
296 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Des Moines, IA to Maquoketa, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dewitt along the way.
Dewitt
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
Founded 1838
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 198 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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