Origin
Lisbon, IA
Late night in Lisbon on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lisbon, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
140.3 mi
226 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 34m
★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lisbon, IA
Bob Jenkin
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lisbon to West Des Moines is 140.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It’s a straightforward drive primarily on interstate highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick transit between these two locations. With only one recommended stop, this route is ideal for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination 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
70.1 miles from Lisbon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 108.1 mi | 1h 57m |
| Highway 1 Northeast | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 1 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| North Market Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 63rd Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Kirkwood Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Lincoln Highway | 0.9 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 West 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 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
13
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
16
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
17
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 44m duration and 140.3 miles, this route is easily manageable in a single day, so an early morning departure is not essential. You'll encounter the longest stretch of 108.1 miles on I 80, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $22, it's a budget-friendly trip. Since there's only one recommended stop and the drive is under three hours, you have a lot of flexibility to depart when it suits you best and arrive at your destination without feeling rushed.
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 70.1 miles from Lisbon, IA, or about 1h 23m 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 31 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.1 miles or 1h 23m 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 12m
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 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 140.3 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.1 miles from Lisbon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 108.1 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 139.9 — 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
138.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 40m 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
4
139.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
|
Vine Street
Turn right onto Vine Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.93 one way
$43.87 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.08 | $48.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.00 | $54.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.98 | $61.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.1 | 0 | $14.73 | $6.73 |
| Efficient EV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.28 | $5.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.1 | 0 | $19.64 | $8.98 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brooklyn, IA
70 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 44m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the journey taking place on major roads like I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. Expect the majority of your time on the interstate, which means consistent speed limits and minimal interruptions. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 108.1 miles on I 80, so be prepared for a solid period of driving without significant changes in scenery or road type. While predominantly interstate, there's a brief section on Highway 1 Northeast, offering a slight variation before you merge back onto faster routes.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 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?
3/10
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 Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 44m drive. You will face about 8 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.
About the Cities
Arriving in West Des Moines, IA
Full guide →West Des Moines is a small city in Central Iowa, the largest suburb of Des Moines.
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 2h 44m. Total distance: 140.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108.1 miles on I 80. 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 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 West 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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