Origin
Manson, IA
Night in Manson on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manson, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
117.6 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manson, IA
Dany Castrejon
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Manson, IA to Des Moines, IA is 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 18m via I 35 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip across Iowa's Midwest landscape. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B. Given the relatively short duration and high highway share, it's a practical choice for travelers looking to minimize transit time between these two Iowa locations. You can expect a consistent driving experience for most of the journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.8 miles from Manson, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 54.5 mi | 59m |
| US 20 | 50.2 mi | 57m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Tabor Avenue | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Sigourney Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 220th Street | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 8th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 54.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manson, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
35 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
8th Street
4
Continue on Tabor Avenue
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Tabor Avenue
5
Turn right onto IA 7
25 ft
·
5 sec
·
190th Street
6
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Tabor Avenue
7
At end of road, turn right onto D26
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
220th Street
8
Turn left onto CR N65
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Sigourney Avenue
9
Turn left onto US 20
50 mi
·
57 min
·
US 20
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Merge onto I 35
54 mi
·
59 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
13
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use 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 of just over two hours, this route offers plenty of flexibility, so there's no need to rush. You could comfortably depart in the morning or afternoon. Plan for one fuel stop if your tank is low, as the total cost is estimated at $18, but it's wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 54.5-mile stretch on I 35. Given the short duration, you can easily make this a single-day trip without feeling pressed for time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any potential early rush hour traffic around Des Moines.
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 58.8 miles from Manson, IA, or about 1h 12m 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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 12m 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 53m
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 Manson, 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 Manson, IA
This is one driving day of about 117.6 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Manson, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Manson, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
10th Avenue
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
8th Street
At end of road, turn left onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
5
57.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
116.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m 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
117 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m 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
$18.39 one way
$36.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.19 | $40.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.63 | $45.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.96 | $51.93 |
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: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.35 | $5.64 |
| Efficient EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47 | 0 | $16.46 | $7.53 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
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 18m 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 drive is heavily focused on the highway, with a 92% highway share, meaning you'll spend the vast majority of your time on high-speed, limited-access roads like I 35 and US 20. Expect efficient travel with minimal interruptions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 54.5 miles on I 35, allowing for a good pace. The route offers a consistent, highway-centric experience for most of its 117.6-mile length, making it predictable and easy to navigate. You won't find many winding backroads here, just a direct path.
92% 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: 54.5 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 10th Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 117.6 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 57.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →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.
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 18m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (10th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 57.3 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 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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