If you are planning to travel from Eagle Grove to West Des Moines, you are looking at a straightforward 99.6-mile trek across the heart of the Iowa Midwest. Expect to spend approximately 2 hours and 1 minute behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. With a modest fuel budget of around $15, the trip is as economical as it is efficient. Since the drive is quite short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay; you can comfortably complete the commute in one sitting. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, ensuring a predictable transit between these two Midwestern points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.8 miles from Eagle Grove, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
54.5 mi
59m
US 20
16.4 mi
18m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
Stagecoach Road
7.7 mi
11m
State Highway 17
6.7 mi
9m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Grove, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway Street
30 ft·8 sec·West Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·South Commercial Avenue
3
Continue on IA 17
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 17
4
Continue on IA 17
5.9 mi·8 min·Stagecoach Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20
0.4 mi·37 sec·220th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 17
1.7 mi·2 min·Stagecoach Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward US 20 East
8
Merge onto US 20
16 mi·18 min·US 20
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
10
Merge onto I 35
54 mi·59 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
12
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
15
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
16
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively quick trip, you have the advantage of total schedule flexibility. I recommend checking traffic conditions on the John MacVicar Freeway before you depart, as this will likely be the most congested portion of your 2-hour drive. Since you don't have any mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily power through the entire 99.6 miles without needing a break, though keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always smart. If you are prone to fatigue, keep in mind that the long, steady stretch on I-35 can feel monotonous, so consider a quick stretch at the halfway mark to stay sharp. Planning your departure to avoid peak commuting hours in the West Des Moines area will make the final leg of your journey much smoother.
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 49.8 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.5 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 22 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.8 miles or 1h 2m 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 37m
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 Eagle Grove, 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 Eagle Grove, IA
This is one driving day of about 99.6 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Eagle Grove, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 54.5 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 13.5 and 97.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.5 mi into trip|~20m in|CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.6 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
5
33.1 mi into trip|~44m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
87.6 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
97.8 mi into trip|~1h 57m 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
$15.57 one way
$31.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.10
$34.19
premium
$4.89
$19.17
$38.33
diesel
$5.61
$21.99
$43.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.9
0
$10.46
$4.78
Efficient EV
24.9
0
$8.71
$3.98
EV Truck/SUV
39.8
0
$13.94
$6.37
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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 11, 2026
Origin
Eagle Grove, IA
Late night
in Eagle Grove on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SE 17 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 16 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SE 14 mph56% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 16 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 11:19AM CDT until April 17 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
6 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 1m 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 built for speed and efficiency rather than leisurely exploration, with a massive 87% of your time spent on high-speed roads. Your journey will take you along US 20, I-35, and the John MacVicar Freeway, providing a consistent driving experience. Be prepared for a sustained pace, as you will tackle a longest uninterrupted stretch of 54.5 miles on I-35. Because the vast majority of the mileage is highway-based, the road feels purposeful and direct, keeping you moving steadily toward your destination. You will find that the transitions between these major arteries are seamless, allowing for a focused experience behind the wheel.
87% 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: 54.5 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.5 miles in near CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street.
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 99.6 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 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 99.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.5 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 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles (I 35): 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 West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
