Spanning 138.7 miles across the Iowa landscape, this trip from Springville to West Des Moines is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 49 minutes. Because of the moderate distance, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend about $21 on fuel for the trek, which remains entirely within the Midwest region. While the route involves a mix of local roads and highways, it serves as a practical connection between these two points. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this drive offers a manageable pace that avoids the fatigue of a multi-day haul.
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
69.4 miles from Springville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi
39m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
IA 100
15.2 mi
18m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
Dubuque Road
5.5 mi
6m
US 65
4.5 mi
5m
16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37.3 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Springville, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Water Street
56 ft·7 sec·Water Street
2
Turn left onto John Street
202 ft·14 sec·John Street
3
Turn left onto CR X20
0.4 mi·39 sec·Broadway Street
4
Turn right onto CR X20
0.2 mi·26 sec·1st Avenue
5
Turn left onto CR X20
0.2 mi·22 sec·6th Street
6
Continue on CR X20
416 ft·9 sec·Springville Road
7
Turn right onto US 151
5.5 mi·6 min·Dubuque Road
8
Continue on US 151
0.3 mi·22 sec·Marion Airport Road
9
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
10
Turn right onto IA 100
15 mi·18 min·IA 100
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
12
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
13
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
14
Continue on US 30
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
16
Turn left onto IA 330
34 mi·39 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
17
Continue on US 65; IA 330
0.7 mi·58 sec·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
18
Take the exit onto US 65
4.5 mi·5 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
20
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
23
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
24
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 138.7-mile journey, try to time your departure to avoid peak local traffic, especially since the route features a significant amount of local road travel. You should plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refresh, which fits perfectly into the nearly three-hour duration. Keep your $21 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops, as local road driving can sometimes be less fuel-efficient than consistent highway cruising. Since this is a one-day trip, having the flexibility to leave when it suits your schedule is a major advantage. Keep a close eye on your navigation when transitioning between the Lincoln Highway and smaller local segments to ensure you stay on track.
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 69.4 miles from Springville, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.3 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 31 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.4 miles or 1h 23m 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 15m
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 Springville, 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 Springville, IA
This is one driving day of about 138.7 miles and 2h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Springville, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 136.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|CR X20 / 6th Street
Turn left onto CR X20 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
23 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
7
122.4 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
126.9 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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
136.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
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.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.68 one way
$43.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.81
$47.62
premium
$4.89
$26.69
$53.38
diesel
$5.61
$30.62
$61.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
EV Truck/SUV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 15, 2026
Origin
Springville, IA
Night
in Springville on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2h 49m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 22% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads like 73rd Street and Marshalltown Boulevard. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 37.3 miles while traveling along the Lincoln Highway. Because the route relies heavily on local infrastructure, the character of the road changes frequently as you transition between sections. This is not a high-speed sprint, so prepare for a driving experience that values careful navigation over pure velocity.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.3 mi on Lincoln Highway.
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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near CR X20 / 6th 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 138.7 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.6 miles (CR X20 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.4 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Springville, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.
Marshalltown
23 mi in|~29m
Des Moines
87.7 mi in|~1h 44m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 138.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (22%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.3 miles on Lincoln Highway. 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 0.6 miles (CR X20 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.4 miles (US 65): 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 West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
