Origin
Story City, IA
Late night in Story City on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Story City, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
44 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Story City, IA
Kelly
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This easy 44-mile drive from Story City to Des Moines in Iowa is a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, taking just under an hour to complete. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, making it a straightforward journey through the Midwest. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, this route is budget-friendly. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is short, you have plenty of flexibility for departure times and spontaneous detours. It's a quick and efficient way to get from one point to another within the heartland.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 36.5 mi | 40m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Broad Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 36.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Story City, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Pennsylvania Avenue
51 ft
·
7 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR E15
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Broad Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
4
Merge onto I 35
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
6
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
10
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22 miles from Story City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 0 and 43.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR E15 / Broad Street
Turn left onto CR E15 / Broad Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
38.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
43 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
43.3 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
$6.88 one way
$13.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.55 | $15.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.47 | $16.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.71 | $19.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.62 | $2.11 |
| Efficient EV | 11 | 0 | $3.85 | $1.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.16 | $2.82 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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.
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 21 mph
19% chance
Live forecast
52°F
Slater, IA
22 mi in
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
32 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
51m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 92% of the drive taking place on high-speed roads like I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 36.5 miles on I 35, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the journey. While the majority is interstate, you will transition onto local roads like Broad Street as you approach Des Moines. This means the drive progresses from a continuous highway cruise to a more urban approach, requiring adjustments in speed and attention.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.5 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR E15 / Broad Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 44 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: near the start (CR E15 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →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.
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 51m. Total distance: 44 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.5 miles on I 35. 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: near the start (CR E15 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.1 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.
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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