Lisbon to Des Moines is 134.1 miles and takes about 2h 35m via I 80 and State Highway 1, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. Given its short duration and primary use of I 80, you'll likely find it a straightforward drive. Plan for a single stop if needed, as the longest stretch on the highway is over 100 miles. It's a good option for a quick transfer or a day trip with plenty of time to spare.
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
67 miles from Lisbon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
108.1 mi
1h 57m
Highway 1 Northeast
10.7 mi
14m
State Highway 1
5.4 mi
7m
John MacVicar Freeway
4 mi
5m
North Market Street
1.4 mi
2m
West Kirkwood Boulevard
1 mi
1m
Lincoln Highway
0.9 mi
1m
North Dodge Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 108.1 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lisbon, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
0.2 mi·37 sec·South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto US 30 Bus
1.0 mi·1 min·West Kirkwood Boulevard
3
Continue on US 30 Bus
0.9 mi·1 min·Lincoln Highway
4
Enter roundabout onto US 30 Bus; IA 1
206 ft·9 sec·State Highway 1
5
Continue on US 30 Bus; IA 1
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 1
6
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1 Northeast
7
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi·2 min·North Market Street
8
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi·10 min·Highway 1 Northeast
9
Continue on North Dodge Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·North Dodge Street
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
11
Merge onto I 80
108 mi·1 hr 57 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
13
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi·5 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East VillageUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn AvenueUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi·34 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
17
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
With a drive time under three hours, you have a lot of flexibility. You could easily leave in the morning and arrive in Des Moines with ample time to settle in or explore. The longest stretch on I 80 is over 100 miles, so consider fueling up before you depart Lisbon or planning a stop around the halfway point if you prefer shorter driving segments. The transition from I 80 to State Highway 1 will be your cue to be more mindful of local speed limits and potential for slower traffic. Given the short distance, there's no need to split this into an overnight trip.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67 miles from Lisbon, IA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.1 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 30 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67 miles or 1h 20m 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 7m
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 Lisbon, 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 Lisbon, IA
This is one driving day of about 134.1 miles and 2h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Lisbon, 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 I 80 for about 108.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 133.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip|~4m in|US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
20.4 mi into trip|~30m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
128.5 mi into trip|~2h 27m 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
133.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m 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
133.4 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
$20.97 one way
$41.93 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.02
$46.04
premium
$4.89
$25.81
$51.61
diesel
$5.61
$29.61
$59.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.2
0
$14.08
$6.44
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.73
$5.36
EV Truck/SUV
53.6
0
$18.77
$8.58
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Lisbon, IA
Morning
in Lisbon on Tuesday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Belle Plaine, IA
67 mi in
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
2h 35m 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?
Expect to spend most of your time on the highway, with 96% of the 134.1 miles on major roads like I 80. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving you'll encounter is 108.1 miles on I 80. Once you transition off I 80 and onto State Highway 1 and Highway 1 Northeast, you'll be on surface roads for about 5.7 miles. You'll notice a significant change in pace and exit frequency as you move from the interstate to these state highways.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 1 Northeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.1 miles in near US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 35m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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
The longest stretch is about 108.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 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 2.1 miles (US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 128.5 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.
