This 207.4-mile drive from Remsen, IA, to Des Moines, IA, will take approximately 4 hours and 6 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll spend about 49% of your time on highways, navigating a mix of main roads including 220th Street and I-35. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, this journey through the Midwest is quite budget-friendly. The route offers a straightforward drive, perfect for those looking to get from point A to point B efficiently without extensive planning. Consider departing early to maximize your time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
103.7 miles from Remsen, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
93.4 mi
1h 47m
I 35
54.5 mi
59m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
15.1 mi
20m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
John MacVicar Freeway
4 mi
5m
320th Street
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 93.4 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-235
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,808 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~182 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 13 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Remsen, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto IA 3
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
3
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 140
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
5
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
6
Continue on L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
9
Continue on US 20
93 mi·1 hr 47 min·220th Street
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 MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 8BToward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East VillageUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn AvenueUse 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
For this 4-hour, 6-minute drive, a single day is definitely feasible. Aim to leave Remsen in the morning to avoid heavier traffic and to give yourself ample time upon arrival in Des Moines. With only one recommended stop on a 207.4-mile trip, you have flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 93.4-mile stretch on 220th Street, as services might be less frequent there. The estimated fuel cost of $32 means you can easily factor in a gas top-off if needed.
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 103.7 miles from Remsen, IA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.4 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 46 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.7 miles or 2h 8m 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 24m
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 Remsen, 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 Remsen, IA
This is one driving day of about 207.4 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Remsen, 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 93.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 206.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|IA 140 / State Highway 140
Turn right onto IA 140 / State Highway 140
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
25.7 mi into trip|~37m in|US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
147.1 mi into trip|~2h 59m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
206.4 mi into trip|~4h 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
206.7 mi into trip|~4h 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
$30.63 one way
$61.26 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.81
$67.63
premium
$4.72
$38.51
$77.02
diesel
$4.80
$39.16
$78.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.2
0
$21.78
$9.96
Efficient EV
51.9
0
$18.15
$8.30
EV Truck/SUV
83
1
$29.04
$13.27
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Remsen, IA
Morning
in Remsen on Sunday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 to 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
6:06 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Mostly Clear
NE 2 to 7 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
4h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion featuring local roads before transitioning to highway travel. While 49% of the journey is on highways, you'll encounter stretches like the 93.4-mile segment on 220th Street that offer a more direct, less trafficked experience. This mix means you'll likely experience varied driving conditions, from open country roads to faster interstate speeds. The profile suggests a drive that isn't solely an interstate grind but also not entirely winding backroads.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.4 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near IA 140 / State Highway 140.
Driving Effort6/10
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 207.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,472 ft873 ft
Total Climb
426 ft
Total Descent
886 ft
Highest Point
1,472 ft
~59.3 mi in
Elevation Range
599 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 207.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.4 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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 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 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 147.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Des Moines, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
