West Des Moines to Buffalo is 176.7 miles and takes about 3h 20m via I 80 and US 6, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward drive. With 95% of the route on highways, expect a mostly efficient transit. This is a good option if you're looking for a relatively short, no-fuss trip between two points in the same state, likely to get you there with plenty of time to spare.
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
88.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
151.3 mi
2h 43m
John MacVicar Freeway
8.8 mi
11m
US 6
8.3 mi
10m
East Front Street
2.9 mi
4m
Rockingham Road
2.1 mi
3m
Grand Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
56th Street
0.6 mi
1m
4th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 151.3 mi, about 2h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Buffalo, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Vine Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.4 mi·55 sec·4th Street
3
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto 56th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·56th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I-235 east
6
Merge onto I 235
8.8 mi·11 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 137A-BToward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, DavenportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 137AToward I 80 East: DavenportUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 80
151 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 80
10
Take the exit onto US 6
8.3 mi·10 min·US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward IA 22: Rockingham Road, Buffalo
12
Turn right onto IA 22
2.1 mi·3 min·Rockingham Road
13
Continue on IA 22
2.9 mi·4 min·East Front Street
14
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
375 ft·17 sec·Jefferson Street
15
Turn left onto 2nd Street
35 ft·1 sec·2nd Street
16
Arrive at destination
2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 20m duration, leaving West Des Moines in the morning should allow you to reach Buffalo with ample daylight. Since the drive is less than four hours and has only one recommended stop, you have a lot of flexibility. Plan your fuel stop strategically, perhaps before you begin the longest stretch on I 80, to ensure you're covered. Keep an eye on the transition from I 80 to US 6 as you near Buffalo; this is where the highway driving ends and you'll need to navigate local roads.
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 88.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.3 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 39 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.3 miles or 1h 40m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 176.7 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from West Des Moines, 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 I 80 for about 151.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 162.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
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 137A-B
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
9
11.3 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
5
162.9 mi into trip|~3h 1m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.63 one way
$55.25 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.33
$60.66
premium
$4.89
$34.00
$68.01
diesel
$5.61
$39.01
$78.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.55
$8.48
Efficient EV
44.2
0
$15.46
$7.07
EV Truck/SUV
70.7
0
$24.74
$11.31
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 15, 2026
Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, IA
Night
in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
88 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 20m 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 to spend most of your time on highways, with 95% of the 176.7 miles covered on them. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 151.3 miles, primarily on I 80. You'll transition from I 80 to John MacVicar Freeway and then US 6. This means you'll encounter a dense network of exits for a significant portion of the drive before shifting to surface roads closer to your destination.
95% 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: 151.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 176.7 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: 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 West Des Moines, IA and Buffalo, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Moline.
Council Bluffs
11 mi in|~16m
Davenport
11 mi in|~16m
Moline
162.9 mi in|~3h 1m|via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 176.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 151.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Buffalo, 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. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Buffalo, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
