Dubuque, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 195.1 miles and takes about 3h 55m via US 151, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest trip stays within Iowa, offering a straightforward drive through familiar terrain. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, it's an ideal choice for a single day of travel. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
97.5 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
58.1 mi
1h 7m
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi
39m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
IA 100
15.2 mi
18m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
US 61
5.6 mi
7m
US 65
4.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 58.1 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 189AToward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Continue on US 61; US 151
5.6 mi·7 min·US 61; US 151
4
Take the exit onto US 151
57 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 151
5
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
6
Turn right onto IA 100
15 mi·18 min·IA 100
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
8
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
9
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
10
Continue on US 30
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
12
Turn left onto IA 330
34 mi·39 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
13
Continue on US 65; IA 330
0.7 mi·58 sec·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
14
Take the exit onto US 65
4.5 mi·5 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
16
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
19
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
20
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 55m estimated drive time, departing in the morning from Dubuque will give you ample daylight to reach West Des Moines. With only one stop suggested, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to rest or refuel; however, it's wise to plan your stop around the 58.1-mile stretch on US 151. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the halfway point, as services can be more spread out on the surface road portions. The $31 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor in current prices when budgeting.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 97.5 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.1 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.5 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, IA
This is one driving day of about 195.1 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Dubuque, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 151 for about 58.1 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 0.2 and 193.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 South, US 151 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
5
79.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
7
178.8 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
183.3 mi into trip|~3h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
193.3 mi into trip|~3h 51m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.50 one way
$61.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.49
$66.98
premium
$4.89
$37.55
$75.09
diesel
$5.61
$43.08
$86.15
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: 68.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.5
0
$20.49
$9.36
Efficient EV
48.8
0
$17.07
$7.80
EV Truck/SUV
78
0
$27.31
$12.49
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Tuesday
Local time
4:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
1 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
3h 55m 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?
This route is a mixed bag, with 48% of it on highways. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving at 58.1 miles on US 151 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to navigate through areas that blend highway cruising with more localized surface road driving. The transition from highway to surface roads will likely involve more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.1 mi on US 151.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 195.1 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.8 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dubuque, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.
Dubuque, founded in 1833, is the oldest city in Iowa. A port on the upper Mississippi River, it is situated along scenic bluffs facing the river, and has its roots in a mining and trading settlement established in the area by Quebec-born entrepreneur Julien Dubuque in 1788. The city's population is 57,686 (2000 Census), and the estimated population of the Dubuque metropolitan area is 93,072.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 195.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.1 miles on US 151. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 8 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 178.8 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at West Des Moines, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
