Moville, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 179 miles and takes about 3h 47m via 220th Street and US 169, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to a similar Midwestern setting. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you make your way south. With only one recommended stop, this is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day.
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
89.5 miles from Moville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
65.6 mi
1h 16m
Highway 20
27.1 mi
32m
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
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
360th Street
3.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moville, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
418 ft·18 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Jones Street
0.1 mi·31 sec·Jones Street
3
Turn left onto IA 140
0.4 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
4
Turn left onto US 20
27 mi·32 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
6
Continue on US 20
62 mi·1 hr 11 min·220th Street
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 169
8
Turn right onto US 169
12 mi·16 min·Lainson Avenue
9
Turn left onto US 169
3.9 mi·5 min·360th Street
10
Take the exit onto US 169
16 mi·22 min·US 169
11
Turn left onto US 30; US 169
3.7 mi·5 min·220th Street
12
Take the exit onto US 169
0.4 mi·1 min·US 169
13
Turn right onto US 169
11 mi·15 min·H Avenue
14
Continue on US 169
1.9 mi·2 min·N Avenue
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
16
Continue on IA 141
16 mi·18 min·Northwest Granger Drive
17
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi·3 min·Northwest 114th Street
18
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi·1 min·Northeast Grimes Boulevard
19
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi·49 sec·Grimes Boulevard
20
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi·2 min·Southeast Grimes Boulevard
21
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council BluffsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi·3 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi·26 sec·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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.
25
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi·3 min·John MacVicar Freeway
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 3Toward Windsor Heights, West Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·8th Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft·12 sec·Vine Street
29
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 4 hours, you can leave anytime and still arrive well before evening. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point or where you transition from highway to surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move onto the longer surface road stretches where stations might be less frequent. Your estimated fuel cost is $28, so budget accordingly before you depart. This route offers flexibility, so enjoy the straightforward drive.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89.5 miles from Moville, IA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.5 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 4m
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 Moville, 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 Moville, IA
This is one driving day of about 179 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Moville, 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 220th Street for about 65.6 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 147.9 and 177.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
147.9 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
7
169.8 mi into trip|~3h 33m 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
173.7 mi into trip|~3h 38m 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
174.1 mi into trip|~3h 39m 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
177.4 mi into trip|~3h 43m 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
$27.98 one way
$55.97 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.73
$61.45
premium
$4.89
$34.45
$68.89
diesel
$5.61
$39.52
$79.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.7
0
$18.79
$8.59
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.66
$7.16
EV Truck/SUV
71.6
0
$25.06
$11.46
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Moville, IA
Late night
in Moville on Tuesday
Local time
4:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Centerville, IA
90 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
3 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
3h 47m 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?
About 33% of this route is on highways, meaning you'll have around 59 miles of highway driving. The longest continuous stretch on a surface road is 65.6 miles on 220nd Street. After the highway segments, you'll transition to surface roads, so be prepared for potential changes in speed limits and traffic patterns. You'll experience a mix of rural cruising and merging onto main arteries.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.6 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 147.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 179 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 147.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 169.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 173.7 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 Moville, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Council Bluffs along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 47m. Total distance: 179 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.6 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 147.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 169.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 173.7 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at West Des Moines, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
