Origin
Marshalltown, IA
Night in Marshalltown on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Marshalltown, 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
1h 6m
Distance
51.6 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Marshalltown, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 51.6-mile drive from Marshalltown to Des Moines, Iowa, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 6 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily be on IA 330 and US 65, with a portion on John MacVicar Freeway. Given its short length and the estimated $8 fuel cost, there's no need to split this journey; you can comfortably complete it in one go. The route offers a classic Midwest highway experience, connecting two points within the same region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 330 | 35.9 mi | 42m |
| US 65 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| West Lincolnway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| East Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 330
— 35.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Marshalltown, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on IA 14
103 ft
·
5 sec
·
North 3rd Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto South 3rd Street
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
South 3rd Street
4
Turn right onto West Madison Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Madison Street
5
Turn straight onto West Lincolnway
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Lincolnway
6
Continue on Marshalltown Boulevard
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
7
Continue on IA 330
36 mi
·
42 min
·
IA 330
8
Take the exit onto US 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
14
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.8 miles from Marshalltown, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 50.9 — 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
|
East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
7
41.5 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
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 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
46 mi into trip
|
~58m 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
50.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m 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
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m 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
$8.07 one way
$16.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.86 | $17.71 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.93 | $19.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.39 | $22.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.42 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.22 | $3.30 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Des Moines, IA
Night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
26 mi in
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
16 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
1h 6m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 51.6-mile trip, with 86% of the route utilizing major roadways like IA 330 and US 65. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.9 miles on IA 330, which means you can settle in for a good period of consistent driving. While largely highway, the transition into Des Moines will bring you onto urban freeways, offering a change of pace as you approach your destination.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on IA 330.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 330 and US 65. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
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 51.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 41.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 1h 6m. Total distance: 51.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 330. 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.
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 (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 41.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46 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.
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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