Origin
Stuart, IA
Late night in Stuart on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stuart, 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
46m
Distance
40 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stuart, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward connection between Stuart and Des Moines, this 40-mile journey is an ideal candidate. Covering the distance in roughly 46 minutes, the route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning there is no need to worry about overnight logistics. You will primarily navigate via I-80, eventually transitioning into the John MacVicar Freeway and South Division Street as you arrive in the city. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for this efficient Midwest transit. Since both the origin and destination are located within Iowa, the drive maintains a consistent regional character throughout. It is a no-nonsense path that gets you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 29.1 mi | 31m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 8.9 mi | 11m |
| South Division Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 29.1 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stuart, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on CR P28
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Division Street
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
3
Merge onto I 80; US 6
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 80; US 6
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235
8.9 mi
·
11 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
7
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
8
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Stuart, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 39.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 80; US 6
Merge onto I 80; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
30.2 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
39.1 mi into trip
|
~44m 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...
4
39.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.25 one way
$12.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.87 | $13.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.70 | $15.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.83 | $17.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:25 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
46m 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?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 95% of this 40-mile trip is spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-80, which accounts for a 29.1-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. This segment offers a steady, predictable pace that is characteristic of interstate travel across the region. As you approach Des Moines, the road transitions from the open highway onto the John MacVicar Freeway and South Division Street. The personality of this drive is strictly utilitarian, prioritizing speed and connectivity over winding scenic detours. You can anticipate a smooth, straightforward ride that requires little technical navigation.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 46m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 30.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,211 ft
833 ft
Total Climb
426 ft
Total Descent
765 ft
Highest Point
1,211 ft
Elevation Range
378 ft
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 46m. Total distance: 40 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (I 80; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 30.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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