Origin
Panora, IA
Morning in Panora on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Panora, IA to 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
1h 7m
Distance
46.5 mi
75 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 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.
Panora, IA
Felix Mittermeier
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Panora, IA to Des Moines, IA is 46.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 7 minutes via 240th Street and John MacVicar Freeway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving from a more rural Midwest setting into the heart of the state's capital region. Expect a route with frequent turns, characteristic of local road travel rather than a straight shot on major highways. It's a straightforward, short trip perfect for a leisurely afternoon drive or an easy commute, with minimal time commitment and a low fuel cost.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 240th Street | 13.3 mi | 18m |
| 290th Street | 11.8 mi | 16m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 8.4 mi | 10m |
| N Avenue | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 44 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Greene Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
240th Street
— 13.3 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Panora, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on IA 44
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on IA 44
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 44
3
Continue on IA 44
13 mi
·
18 min
·
240th Street
4
Turn right onto US 169
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
5
Continue on US 169
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Nile Kinnick Drive North
6
Turn left onto US 6
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greene Street
7
Continue on US 6
12 mi
·
16 min
·
290th Street
Use the left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 80; I 35
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80; I 35
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ramp 72 I
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 235
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
15
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
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 35.2 and 45.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
35.2 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west
6
36.4 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
36.8 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
5
37.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
45.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
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 Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylva...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.27 one way
$14.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.98 | $15.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.95 | $17.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.27 | $20.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.07 | $1.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.51 | $2.98 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Morning in Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
7:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 7m 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 route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only 29% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate primarily on local roads like 240th Street and 290th Street before merging onto the John MacVicar Freeway. The longest continuous stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 13.3 miles on 240th Street. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires attention to navigation due to the numerous directional changes.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.3 mi on 240th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.5 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.8 miles (Ramp 72 I): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →Founded 1843
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.
Top landmarks
- • Iowa State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Iowa
- • St. Ambrose Cathedral — church in Iowa, United States
- • Des Moines Art Center — art museum in Des Moines, Iowa
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 7m. Total distance: 46.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.3 miles on 240th Street. 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: at 35.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.4 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.8 miles (Ramp 72 I): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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