Manson, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 106.2 miles and takes about 2h 24m via US 20 and US 169, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a relatively short, straightforward trip that's well-suited for a single day, making it an easy option for a weekend excursion or a quick commute. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, offering a bit of variety without being overly demanding.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.1 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
US 20
18.6 mi
21m
US 169
16.6 mi
23m
Northwest Granger Drive
15.6 mi
18m
Lainson Avenue
12.2 mi
16m
H Avenue
11.4 mi
15m
220th Street
4.4 mi
6m
360th Street
3.9 mi
5m
Tabor Avenue
3.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 18.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manson, IA and West 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
19 mi·21 min·US 20
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 169
11
Turn right onto US 169
12 mi·16 min·Lainson Avenue
12
Turn left onto US 169
3.9 mi·5 min·360th Street
13
Take the exit onto US 169
16 mi·22 min·US 169
14
Turn left onto US 30; US 169
3.7 mi·5 min·220th Street
15
Take the exit onto US 169
0.4 mi·1 min·US 169
16
Turn right onto US 169
11 mi·15 min·H Avenue
17
Continue on US 169
1.9 mi·2 min·N Avenue
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
19
Continue on IA 141
16 mi·18 min·Northwest Granger Drive
20
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi·3 min·Northwest 114th Street
21
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi·1 min·Northeast Grimes Boulevard
22
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi·49 sec·Grimes Boulevard
23
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi·2 min·Southeast Grimes Boulevard
24
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council BluffsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi·3 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi·26 sec·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I
0.4 mi·56 sec·Ramp 72 I
Exit 72AToward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des MoinesUse the right lane.
28
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi·3 min·John MacVicar Freeway
29
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 3Toward Windsor Heights, West Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
30
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·8th Street
Use the right lane.
31
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft·12 sec·Vine Street
32
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 24m duration, this trip is easily achievable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid any early rush and arrive in West Des Moines with plenty of afternoon time. The $17 fuel cost suggests keeping an eye on your tank, though with a longest stretch of 18.6 miles, you won't be far from potential refueling points. Plan for a brief stop around the halfway mark to stretch your legs, especially if you're heading out on US 20, to break up the drive effectively.
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 53.1 miles from Manson, IA, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.6 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 53.1 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 58m
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 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 106.2 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Manson, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 18.6 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 75.1 and 104.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
75.1 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
7
97 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
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-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Coun...
6
101 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
101.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|Ramp 72 I
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
8
104.6 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
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 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.60 one way
$33.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.23
$36.46
premium
$4.89
$20.44
$40.87
diesel
$5.61
$23.45
$46.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.9
0
$11.15
$5.10
Efficient EV
26.6
0
$9.29
$4.25
EV Truck/SUV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Manson, IA
Late night
in Manson on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Clear
NW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
73°F
Madrid, IA
53 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
14 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 24m 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 offers a mixed drive experience, with 39% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 20, US 169, and Northwest Granger Drive. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is 18.6 miles on US 20, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. The character of the drive shifts as you progress, moving from more open highway sections to potentially more varied local road conditions as you approach your destination. Expect a driving experience that balances efficiency with some local flavor.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 75.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 106.2 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 75.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 97 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Manson, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Council Bluffs along the way.
Council Bluffs
97 mi in|~2h 10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 106.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m 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 18.6 miles on US 20. 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 West 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: at 75.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 97 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101 miles (I 35): 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 West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
