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Trip from Harlan, IA to Des Moines, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 59m

Distance

103.6 mi

167 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Iowa, USA

Harlan, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Des Moines, IA, IA

Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Harlan, IA to Des Moines, IA is 103.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip connecting two points within the Midwest, specifically across Iowa. With 96% of the drive on highways, expect a focused journey primarily on Interstate 80. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two locations without significant detours. You'll find it a practical and predictable drive, perfect for a quick transfer or a segment of a larger road trip.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

51.8 miles from Harlan, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 82.1 mi 1h 28m
John MacVicar Freeway 8.9 mi 11m
US 59 8.5 mi 11m
12th Street 1.5 mi 2m
Linden Road 1.1 mi 1m
Pennsylvania Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
800th Street 0.4 mi <1m
Avoca Lane 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 82.1 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harlan, IA and Des Moines, IA.

1

Start on Willow Street

55 ft · 4 sec · Willow Street
2

Turn right onto 12th Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · 12th Street
3

Continue on Linden Road

1.1 mi · 1 min · Linden Road
4

Continue on 800th Street

0.4 mi · 46 sec · 800th Street
5

Turn left onto US 59

8.5 mi · 11 min · US 59
6

Continue on US 59

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Avoca Lane
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
8

Merge onto I 80

82 mi · 1 hr 28 min · I 80
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 235

8.9 mi · 11 min · John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123A Toward I 235 East: Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 8B Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
12

Turn left onto East University Avenue

100 ft · 8 sec · East University Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

East University Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of under two hours, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can comfortably depart at any time of day without needing to split the drive. Plan for your fuel needs, as the estimated cost is around $16, and there are no specific stops recommended on this direct route. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 82.1 miles on I 80, to ensure you don't need to search for services unexpectedly. This is a drive where you can truly focus on getting from point A to point B efficiently.

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 51.8 miles from Harlan, IA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.1 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 23 miles or 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 51.8 miles or 1h 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 36m

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 Harlan, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Harlan, IA

This is one driving day of about 103.6 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Harlan, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 82.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Iowa, US

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Guthrie Center, IA

52 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Atlantic, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Guthrie Center, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 51.8 miles from Harlan, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.1 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 103.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 12th Street

Turn right onto 12th Street

Navigation decision point

3
3 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 59

Turn left onto US 59

Navigation decision point

8
93.9 mi into trip | ~1h 46m in | I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 123A Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
102.8 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in

Take the exit toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue

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 Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylva...
4
103.2 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | Pennsylvania Avenue

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$16.20 one way

$32.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.78 $35.57
premium $4.89 $19.94 $39.87
diesel $5.61 $22.87 $45.75

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: 36.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 31.1 0 $10.88 $4.97
Efficient EV 25.9 0 $9.07 $4.14
EV Truck/SUV 41.4 0 $14.50 $6.63

Gas CO2

36 kg

EV CO2

12 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

Harlan, IA

Late night in Harlan on Tuesday

Local time

3:12 AM

CDT

Current temp

31°F

Partly Cloudy

NW 13 to 17 mph 7% chance Live 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

Des Moines, IA

Late night in Des Moines on Tuesday

Local time

3:12 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

30 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

1h 59m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the journey utilizing major interstates and highways. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including an uninterrupted segment of 82.1 miles on I 80. The character of the drive is largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum over varied scenery. Expect a smooth, predictable experience as you navigate primarily through I 80 and connect via John MacVicar Freeway and US 59. It's designed for efficient travel, minimizing distractions and maximizing mileage covered per hour.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.1 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 12th Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Harlan, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 59m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 59): Navigation decision point; at 93.9 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Des Moines, IA

Full guide →

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

  • • 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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 103.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 82.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (12th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 59): Navigation decision point; at 93.9 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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