Elk Run Heights to Des Moines is 115.2 miles and takes about 2h 28m via IA 330 and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward trip stays within Iowa, making it a quick hop between Midwest communities. You'll primarily be on well-maintained state highways, offering a smooth transition from your starting point to the state capital. Consider this a convenient option for a quick visit or a business trip, with minimal fuss and a predictable travel time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
57.6 miles from Elk Run Heights, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 330
35.9 mi
42m
Avenue of the Saints
26 mi
29m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.5 mi
6m
US 65
4.5 mi
5m
160th Street
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
IA 330
— 35.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Run Heights, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Gilbertville Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Gilbertville Road
2
Turn right onto Evansdale Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·Evansdale Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
4
Merge onto I 380; US 20; IA 27
2.5 mi·2 min·Avenue of the Saints
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
23 mi·27 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
7
Turn left onto IA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·N Avenue
8
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
9
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
10
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
11
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
12
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
13
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
14
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·North Main Street
15
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
16
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi·42 min·IA 330
17
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.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
19
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East VillageUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn AvenueUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi·34 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
23
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2h 28m drive time, you have a lot of flexibility for when to depart. Leaving in the morning will get you to Des Moines with plenty of the day ahead. While there are no designated stops mentioned, the drive is short enough that you likely won't need more than one quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $18, and it's always wise to top off before you leave Elk Run Heights, especially since the longest stretch without a potential services stop is 35.9 miles on IA 330.
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 57.6 miles from Elk Run Heights, IA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.6 miles or 1h 15m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elk Run Heights, 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 Elk Run Heights, IA
This is one driving day of about 115.2 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Elk Run Heights, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 330 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.8 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 65.8
Marshalltown, Iowa
Hours: 10:30 am–7 pm
+16417521375
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.1 and 114.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
27.1 mi into trip|~32m in
Take the exit toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
7
105.1 mi into trip|~2h 14m 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
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
114.2 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Ea...
8
114.5 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Aven...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.01 one way
$36.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.77
$39.55
premium
$4.89
$22.17
$44.34
diesel
$5.61
$25.43
$50.87
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: 40.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Efficient EV
28.8
0
$10.08
$4.61
EV Truck/SUV
46.1
0
$16.13
$7.37
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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
Elk Run Heights, IA
Morning
in Elk Run Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
8:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
WNW 20 mph1% chanceLive 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
4 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 28m 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 route is a mix of highway and surface roads, with 39% of the drive on higher-speed roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 35.9 miles on IA 330 before transitioning to other main roads like Avenue of the Saints and Sanford Avenue. Expect to see a moderate number of exits and merges as you navigate between these different road types. The profile suggests you'll spend a good portion of your time cruising rather than dealing with frequent stops or slowdowns.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on IA 330.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 115.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Elk Run Heights, IA to Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Grundy Center along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 115.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 330. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Des Moines, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 8 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 105.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 109.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Des Moines, IA before heading back.
