Wellman, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 121.5 miles and takes about 2h 28m via I 80 and State Highway 22, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, transitioning from the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on major highways, making it a practical option for a quick journey. Expect a smooth, efficient drive that gets you to your destination without significant detours. This route is ideal if you're looking for a no-fuss drive across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.8 miles from Wellman, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
78.6 mi
1h 24m
State Highway 22
12.8 mi
18m
M Avenue
11.9 mi
16m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
State Highway 149
5.2 mi
7m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 78.6 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellman, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on this road
135 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street
165 ft·8 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.3 mi·32 sec·9th Avenue
4
Turn left onto IA 22
0.3 mi·22 sec·6th Street
5
Continue on IA 22
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 22
6
Continue on IA 22
0.4 mi·36 sec·Main Street
7
Turn right onto IA 149
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 149
8
Continue on IA 149
12 mi·16 min·M Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
79 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
12
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
15
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
16
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2h 28m, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. Plan to leave in the morning to make the most of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, you can easily budget for this journey. While there are no designated stops in the data, keep an eye out for service areas along I 80 for any necessary breaks. A practical tip for this route is to ensure your GPS is updated, as navigating the transition from State Highway 22 to M Avenue near the end of the drive can be helpful.
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 60.8 miles from Wellman, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.6 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 27 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.8 miles or 1h 17m 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 59m
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 Wellman, 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 Wellman, IA
This is one driving day of about 121.5 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Wellman, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 78.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 119.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|2nd Street
Turn right onto 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 22 / 6th Street
Turn left onto IA 22 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
31.1 mi into trip|~45m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
119.7 mi into trip|~2h 24m 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
$19.00 one way
$37.99 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.86
$41.71
premium
$4.89
$23.38
$46.76
diesel
$5.61
$26.83
$53.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.4
0
$12.76
$5.83
Efficient EV
30.4
0
$10.63
$4.86
EV Truck/SUV
48.6
0
$17.01
$7.78
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 18, 2026
Origin
Wellman, IA
Night
in Wellman on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Sunny
NW 15 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
WNW 10 to 18 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
61 mi in
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
2h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 87% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 80. You'll experience a significant stretch of 78.6 miles on I 80 without needing to exit, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is high-speed highway driving, the inclusion of State Highway 22 and M Avenue introduces some variation. The character shifts from open interstate to potentially more local road conditions as you approach West Des Moines, offering a brief change of scenery before arrival.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 22. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 2nd Street.
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 28m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 121.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 78.6 miles on I 80. 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: near the start (2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 22 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 31.1 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
