This 113.6-mile drive from Villisca, IA to Des Moines, IA takes approximately 1 hour and 54 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $17, it's an economical journey across Iowa's Midwest region. The route primarily utilizes local roads, indicated by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile and 0% highway share. You won't need an overnight stop for this relatively short distance, allowing for a flexible schedule. This trip offers a straightforward way to connect two points within the state without the need for extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.8 miles from Villisca, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 6
62 mi
1h 7m
US 71
32.6 mi
44m
John MacVicar Freeway
8.9 mi
11m
650th Street
6.4 mi
8m
East 7th Street
2 mi
2m
East 3rd Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
South U Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 62 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Villisca, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
0.5 mi·54 sec·East 3rd Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto South U Avenue
0.4 mi·57 sec·South U Avenue
3
Turn left onto West High Street
323 ft·10 sec·West High Street
4
Turn right onto US 71
33 mi·44 min·US 71
5
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
2.0 mi·2 min·East 7th Street
6
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.4 mi·8 min·650th Street
7
Take the exit onto US 6
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 6
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235
8.9 mi·11 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123AToward I 235 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 8BToward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania AvenueUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi·47 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
11
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 54-minute duration and 113.6-mile length, this drive is best tackled in a single day. The estimated fuel cost of $17 makes it an affordable option, so you won't need to budget heavily for gas. Since there are no specified stops or a longest uninterrupted stretch, plan your departure to suit your schedule, perhaps leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush and arrive in Des Moines with ample daylight. Pay close attention to road signs as you'll be on local roads for the entire journey, especially as you transition onto East 7th Street approaching Des Moines.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.8 miles from Villisca, IA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.8 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
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 Villisca, 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 Villisca, IA
This is one driving day of about 113.6 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Villisca, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 6 for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
2.2 mi from route
~5 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 32.5
Atlantic, Iowa
Hours: 12 pm–2 am
+17122432426
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 112.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~0m in|South U Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto South U Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
33.5 mi into trip|~46m in|US 6; US 71 / East 7th Street
Turn right onto US 6; US 71 / East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
35.5 mi into trip|~49m in|US 6; US 71 / 650th Street
Turn left onto US 6; US 71 / 650th Street
Navigation decision point
8
103.9 mi into trip|~2h 5m 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
112.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.76 one way
$35.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.50
$39.00
premium
$4.89
$21.86
$43.72
diesel
$5.61
$25.08
$50.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.1
0
$11.93
$5.45
Efficient EV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.54
EV Truck/SUV
45.4
0
$15.90
$7.27
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Villisca, IA
Morning
in Villisca on Sunday
Local time
8:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
8:33 AM
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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 18m 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' on this route, with no highway sections to speak of. The entire 113.6-mile journey will keep you engaged with frequent turns as you navigate through towns and rural landscapes. While there's no specified longest stretch, the profile suggests a continuous series of road changes rather than long, monotonous stretches. This type of driving requires consistent attention, as you'll be transitioning between different local roads like South U Avenue, West High Street, and East 7th Street throughout the 1 hour and 54-minute trip.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on US 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and US 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near South U Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 18m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (South U Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 33.5 miles (US 6; US 71 / East 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles (US 6; US 71 / 650th Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
The longest stretch is about 62 miles on US 6. 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 0.5 miles (South U Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 33.5 miles (US 6; US 71 / East 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles (US 6; US 71 / 650th Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Des Moines, IA before heading back.
