Tripoli to West Des Moines is 141.7 miles and takes about 3 hours 8 minutes via IA 330 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward journey between two points in the same state. Expect a mixed driving experience that's manageable for a single day, whether you're heading out in the morning or afternoon. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route offers flexibility for your travel plans.
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
70.9 miles from Tripoli, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 330
35.9 mi
42m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
US 20
11.3 mi
13m
Larrabee Avenue
11.3 mi
12m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
IA 330
— 35.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tripoli, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on IA 93
0.4 mi·37 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 93
0.5 mi·45 sec·7th Avenue Southwest
3
Continue on IA 93
3.5 mi·5 min·170th Street
4
Turn left onto US 63
11 mi·12 min·Larrabee Avenue
5
Continue on US 63
6.9 mi·8 min·Logan Avenue
6
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi·5 min·West Airline Highway
7
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·Airport Boulevard
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 218 north
9
Merge onto US 218
0.6 mi·40 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
10
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
12
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
1.2 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 183Toward University Avenue
14
Keep slight right at fork
333 ft·8 sec
15
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi·2 min·University Avenue
16
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
124 ft·2 sec·University Avenue
17
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
18
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Use the right lane.
20
Merge onto US 20
11 mi·13 min·US 20
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
22
Turn left onto IA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·N Avenue
23
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
24
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
25
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
26
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
27
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
28
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
29
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·North Main Street
30
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
31
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi·42 min·IA 330
32
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.
33
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
34
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
37
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
38
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour drive time, leaving in the morning or early afternoon from Tripoli allows ample time to reach West Des Moines comfortably. The route has one recommended stop, so consider where that might be most beneficial for a break or to stretch your legs. Fuel costs are estimated at $22, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, especially as you'll be on IA 330 for a significant portion. Keep an eye out for transitions between road types, as this can sometimes mean changes in speed limits or traffic patterns as you approach West Des Moines.
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 70.9 miles from Tripoli, IA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.9 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 34m
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 Tripoli, 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 Tripoli, IA
This is one driving day of about 141.7 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Tripoli, 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 IA 330 for about 35.9 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 25.7 and 139.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
25.7 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the ramp toward US 218 north
Navigation decision point
Toward US 218 north
6
27.1 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
7
125.5 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
129.9 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
139.9 mi into trip|~3h 4m 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
$22.15 one way
$44.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.32
$48.65
premium
$4.89
$27.27
$54.54
diesel
$5.61
$31.29
$62.57
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: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.5
0
$14.88
$6.80
Efficient EV
35.4
0
$12.40
$5.67
EV Truck/SUV
56.7
0
$19.84
$9.07
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 20, 2026
Origin
Tripoli, IA
Late night
in Tripoli on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
2 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
3h 8m 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?
This route offers a blend of driving experiences, with 44% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on IA 330, including a continuous segment of 35.9 miles, which likely provides a more consistent pace. The drive transitions between these more open roads and other routes like Sanford Avenue and US 20, suggesting a varied landscape and potentially different speed limits as you progress. It’s not a constant interstate cruise, nor is it exclusively winding backroads, but rather a mix that keeps things interesting without being overly demanding.
44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on IA 330.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 25.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 141.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 25.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.5 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 Tripoli, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Uni and Grundy Center.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 141.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 330. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 West 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 25.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at West Des Moines, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
