Embarking on a journey from Saint Ansgar to Des Moines covers approximately 150 miles and takes about 3 hours. This drive is easily manageable as a single-day trip, with a fuel cost estimated at $23. You'll navigate primarily along the Avenue of the Saints and State Highway 9, with a smaller portion on Balsam Avenue. Given its relatively short length and turn-heavy local drive profile, it's best suited for a single, focused day of travel through Iowa's Midwest landscape. This route offers a straightforward passage between two points within the same state.
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
75.2 miles from Saint Ansgar, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
115.8 mi
2h 4m
State Highway 9
16.5 mi
22m
Balsam Avenue
6 mi
10m
John MacVicar Freeway
4 mi
5m
420th Street
4 mi
7m
East South Street
1 mi
2m
West 4th Street
0.3 mi
1m
Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 115.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Ansgar, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Train Lane
59 ft·4 sec·Train Lane
2
Turn left onto CR 105
0.3 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
3
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·South Main Street
4
Continue on Foothill Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·Foothill Avenue
5
Turn right onto 420th Street
4.0 mi·7 min·420th Street
6
Turn left onto CR S70
6.0 mi·10 min·Balsam Avenue
7
Turn right onto IA 9
9.4 mi·12 min·State Highway 9
8
Continue on IA 9
1.0 mi·2 min·East South Street
9
Continue on IA 9
7.1 mi·9 min·State Highway 9
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
11
Merge onto I 35; IA 27
116 mi·2 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
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 150-mile drive, starting in the morning is ideal to allow ample time for your journey. With a duration of under 3 hours and only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $23. The route's turn-heavy nature means staying alert and following your navigation closely is key, especially on State Highway 9 and Balsam Avenue. Given the manageable distance, you can easily complete this trip in one day without needing to split it, arriving in Des Moines with plenty of daylight remaining.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.2 miles from Saint Ansgar, IA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.8 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 33 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.2 miles or 1h 36m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
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 Saint Ansgar, 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 Saint Ansgar, IA
This is one driving day of about 150.4 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Saint Ansgar, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 115.8 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 0.3 and 149.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
28.7 mi into trip|~45m in|I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
144.5 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
149.4 mi into trip|~2h 56m 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
149.7 mi into trip|~2h 57m 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
$23.51 one way
$47.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.82
$51.63
premium
$4.89
$28.94
$57.89
diesel
$5.61
$33.21
$66.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.1
0
$15.79
$7.22
Efficient EV
37.6
0
$13.16
$6.02
EV Truck/SUV
60.2
0
$21.06
$9.63
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Saint Ansgar, IA
Night
in Saint Ansgar on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 23 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 3:26PM CDT until April 17 at 4:30PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 3:26PM CDT until April 17 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Night
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 18 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 3:26PM CDT until April 17 at 4:30PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 3:26PM CDT until April 17 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
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
6 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
2h 59m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 150-mile stretch between Saint Ansgar and Des Moines. Only 14% of this route utilizes highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on more direct, local roads like Avenue of the Saints and State Highway 9. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 115.8 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a sustained period of travel before you transition to more varied road conditions. This drive is characterized by frequent changes in direction rather than long, monotonous highway cruising.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.8 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 150.4 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 0.3 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 150.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (14%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Des Moines, IA before heading back.
