Iowa road trips
Best Road Trips in Iowa
20 popular Iowa drives with distance, driving time, EV-friendliness and gas cost at the state's estimated $3.05/gal.
Editor's picks
Top Iowa Drives Right Now
Curated short-distance Iowa routes — the most popular, lowest-cost picks.
Kansas City, MO → Des Moines, IA
212 mi · 3.4 h · ~$23 gas
Minneapolis, MN → Des Moines, IA
277 mi · 4.5 h · ~$30 gas
Des Moines, IA → St. Paul, MN
276 mi · 4.5 h · ~$30 gas
Madison, WI → Des Moines, IA
281 mi · 4.5 h · ~$31 gas
Lincoln, NE → Des Moines, IA
199 mi · 3.2 h · ~$22 gas
Topeka, KS → Des Moines, IA
243 mi · 3.9 h · ~$26 gas
Our Iowa road trip ranking method
Routes are ranked by traveler popularity between Iowa metros and major destinations, with distance, driving time and current $3.05/gal fuel cost calculated for every drive.
- Distance: city-center to city-center with a 1.18× road-curvature factor.
- Fuel cost: 28 MPG baseline × $3.05/gal Iowa regular.
- Popularity: traveler-intent signals between major Iowa origins and destinations.
- EV practicality: regional DC fast-charging coverage flagged per route.
Orlando → Des Moines
The headline Iowa road trip — 1338 miles, about 21.6 hours of driving and roughly $146 in gas at $3.05/gal.
More top Iowa drives (19)
New York → Des Moines
1203 mi · ~19.4 h · ~$131 gas
Open tripAtlanta → Des Moines
873 mi · ~14.1 h · ~$95 gas
Open tripShreveport → Des Moines
740 mi · ~11.9 h · ~$81 gas
Open tripCleveland → Des Moines
727 mi · ~11.7 h · ~$79 gas
Open tripHuntsville → Des Moines
718 mi · ~11.6 h · ~$78 gas
Open tripColumbus → Des Moines
669 mi · ~10.8 h · ~$73 gas
Open tripDetroit → Des Moines
643 mi · ~10.4 h · ~$70 gas
Open tripLexington → Des Moines
640 mi · ~10.3 h · ~$70 gas
Open tripNashville → Des Moines
619 mi · ~10.0 h · ~$67 gas
Open tripToledo → Des Moines
613 mi · ~9.9 h · ~$67 gas
Open tripAnn Arbor → Des Moines
602 mi · ~9.7 h · ~$66 gas
Open tripCincinnati → Des Moines
601 mi · ~9.7 h · ~$65 gas
Open tripMemphis → Des Moines
572 mi · ~9.2 h · ~$62 gas
Open tripLittle Rock → Des Moines
564 mi · ~9.1 h · ~$61 gas
Open tripLouisville → Des Moines
562 mi · ~9.1 h · ~$61 gas
Open tripGrand Rapids → Des Moines
492 mi · ~7.9 h · ~$54 gas
Open tripIndianapolis → Des Moines
484 mi · ~7.8 h · ~$53 gas
Open tripChicago → Des Moines
365 mi · ~5.9 h · ~$40 gas
Open tripMilwaukee → Des Moines
364 mi · ~5.9 h · ~$40 gas
Open tripBest driving cost routes in Iowa
Top Iowa road trips with gas, distance and driving time at the state's estimated $3.05/gal.
Cheapest Iowa road trips
Short, low-fuel-cost drives — great for a weekend trip from Iowa.
Long-distance road trips from Iowa
500+ mile drives for cross-country and multi-day road trip planning.
Drives in neighboring states
Cross-state routes near Iowa — Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri.
Gas prices in Iowa
Estimated regular at $3.05/gal · premium $3.65 · diesel $3.40.
Best vehicles for Iowa drivers
- Best hybridToyota Prius57 MPG
- Best EVLucid Air134 MPGe
- Best SUVNissan Rogue33 MPG
- Best truckFord Maverick26 MPG
Commute cost in Iowa
Daily driving cost estimates for major Iowa-area cities.
EV vs gas in Iowa
Compare driving cost of an EV vs a gas car for Iowa trips and commutes.
Neighboring state road trip hubs
FAQ
What's the best time of year for a Iowa road trip?
Spring and fall typically offer the most comfortable driving weather across most of Iowa. Coastal and southern routes are pleasant year-round; mountain routes are best between late spring and early fall.
How much does a Iowa road trip cost in fuel?
At Iowa's estimated $3.05/gal and 28 MPG, expect roughly $10.89 per 100 miles. Each route below includes a detailed estimate.
Is Iowa EV-friendly for road trips?
Yes — most popular Iowa routes have solid DC fast-charging coverage. Check our EV-friendly routes collection for the strongest picks.
How accurate are these distances?
Distances are calculated from city centers using a road-curvature factor of about 1.18 over straight-line distance. Real-world mileage varies by route choice and traffic.