DriveCosts

Road trip cost

How Much Does It Cost to Drive From Columbus to Des Moines?

At 669 miles and roughly 10 hr 48 min of driving, the route from Columbus, OH to Des Moines, IA is a long-haul trip. Budget for multiple fuel stops, food, and possibly an overnight stay — gas alone can run well over a hundred dollars depending on your vehicle.

Long-haulLong haul
  • Updated for 2026
  • US avg fuel prices
  • EPA-style MPG
  • EV rates vary by state
  • US units
Distance

669 mi

Driving time

10 hr 48 min

Fuel stops

1

EV charges

2

Route overview669 mi

1 suggested fuel stop

Key takeaway

Plan on about $82 in gas one-way in a 28 MPG sedan, with 1 fuel stop and roughly 10 hr 48 min behind the wheel.

Drive intensity

Long-haul

Consider an overnight stop.

Estimate your trip cost

Pre-filled with the Columbus → Des Moines distance.

miles
mpg
$/gal

Estimated Trip Cost

$0.00

Per Person

$0.00

Gallons

0.00gal

Total miles: 669 (one way).

How we estimate this trip

Distance
Great-circle distance between city centers × 1.18 road factor, rounded to whole miles.
Fuel cost formula
(miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon, computed one-way unless noted.
Gas price assumption
Recent US average retail regular gas (AAA-style baseline).
EV charging assumption
Combined MPGe with average US residential electricity rate.
Tolls & weather
Not included — add manually for I-95, I-90 and mountain routes.
Driving time
Estimated at typical highway average speeds; excludes long breaks.

Sources & assumptions

  • EPA fuel economy data — City / highway / combined MPG and MPGe baselines.
  • U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov) — Vehicle efficiency and EV range references.
  • AAA gas price trends — Recent national and regional retail fuel averages.
  • EIA electricity rates — Average residential per-kWh prices used for EV charging.

We summarize publicly available data — no scraping, no external API calls. Figures are calibrated periodically; use the calculators above for your exact inputs.

Fuel cost by vehicle type

Estimated one-way fuel cost at $3.45/gal (US average). Adjust for your local price.

Compact car· 35 MPG · 19.1 gal$65.94
Sedan· 28 MPG · 23.9 gal$82.43
SUV· 22 MPG · 30.4 gal$104.91
Pickup truck· 18 MPG · 37.2 gal$128.22

Cost at different gas prices

Assuming a 28 MPG sedan over the 669-mile route.

Gas at $3.15/gal

$75.26

one way · ~23.9 gal

Gas at $3.45/gal

$82.43

one way · ~23.9 gal

Gas at $3.85/gal

$91.99

one way · ~23.9 gal

Fuel & charging stops

1 fuel stop one-way

A typical 28 MPG sedan with a 12.5-gallon tank covers about 350 miles per fill-up. Plan 1 stop along the way and fuel up before any remote stretches.

2 DC fast-charges for most EVs

Assuming a realistic 230-mile highway range, plan 2 DC fast-charging stops. Tesla Superchargers and Electrify America have strong coverage on most US corridors.

Halfway stop suggestion

Midpoint

Chicago, IL

Roughly halfway between Columbus and Des Moines. A natural place to fuel up, grab a meal, swap drivers, or stop overnight on longer drives.

Route personality

Long-distance interstate driveToll corridorOvernight-friendly

Midwest driving context

  • Flat, straight interstates (I-70, I-80, I-90) reward steady speeds and deliver near-EPA highway MPG.
  • Winter snow and lake-effect storms can close stretches of road from December through March.
  • I-Pass / EZ-Pass works across most Midwest toll roads.

City insights

Columbus, OH

  • Government and event-day closures around downtown Columbus can reroute traffic.
  • OH uses electronic tolling — an E-ZPass / SunPass / TxTag transponder is worth it.

Des Moines, IA

  • Government and event-day closures around downtown Des Moines can reroute traffic.

Best stops along the way

  • Chicago, IL sits near the midpoint — natural fuel, food and restroom stop.
  • Pick a sit-down meal stop around the 2.5-hour mark to reset focus and avoid drive-thru fatigue.
  • Truck-stop plazas (Pilot, Love's, TA) reliably have fuel, food and clean restrooms every 60–90 miles.

Seasonal notes

Winter

Snow, ice and chain-control zones from late November through March — carry an emergency kit.

Spring–Summer

Midwest construction season is March–October — expect single-lane closures on I-70, I-80 and I-90.

Recommendations for this route

  • Hybrid or efficient sedan recommended — fewer fast chargers on this corridor.
  • Pick up the correct toll transponder (E-ZPass / SunPass / TxTag) before you leave.
  • Split the drive across a meal stop or overnight — fatigue starts hurting reaction time after 5 hours.
  • Run tires at the door-jamb PSI and pre-cool the cabin with AC on low — both add 1–3 MPG.

Is it cheaper to fly or drive?

For one or two people, driving usually wins on cost. Solo travelers with no luggage may find a budget flight cheaper once you add parking and meals.

A one-way drive uses about $82 in gas (28 MPG, $3.45/gal). A typical short domestic flight costs $80–$220 per person plus $30–$60/day for airport parking and any baggage fees.

Weather & best time

Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.

  • • Mostly straightforward weather year-round, though summer heat and winter rain can still slow traffic.

Tolls

Tolls are likely on parts of the route — usually under $20 each way, but a transponder saves time.

Best vehicle

Comfort matters more than MPG on this distance. A larger sedan, hybrid SUV, or full-size SUV for families works well.

Driving difficulty

Long-haul · 10 hr 48 min

Very high — strongly consider an overnight stop rather than pushing through in a single day.

Overnight stop recommended

At 10 hr 48 min of driving, splitting the trip across two days is safer and more enjoyable. Budget hotels along the route typically run $70–$130/night.

About the drive from Columbus to Des Moines

This 669-mile route between Columbus, OH and Des Moines, IA is a popular drive in the region. Expect roughly 10 hr 48 min behind the wheel under normal traffic conditions.

Fuel-saving tips

  • Keep your speed near 65 mph — fuel economy drops sharply above 70.
  • Fill up before mountain or desert stretches; remote stations charge a premium.
  • Use GasBuddy or AAA to spot cheap stations along your route before you leave.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to drive from Columbus to Des Moines?

The drive is about 669 miles and takes roughly 10 hr 48 min under normal traffic. Add buffer for stops, construction, and rush hour around either city.

How much gas does the trip use?

In a 28 MPG sedan, expect about 23.9 gallons one way. A 22 MPG SUV would use roughly 30.4 gallons.

What's the typical fuel cost?

At the US average of $3.45/gal, a 28 MPG vehicle costs about $82.43 one way. Round trip roughly doubles that. Use the calculator above for your exact MPG and local gas price.

How many fuel or charging stops will I need?

A typical gas sedan needs about 1 fuel stop one way. A modern EV with ~230 miles of highway range needs about 2 DC fast-charges.

Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Columbus to Des Moines?

For one or two people, driving usually wins on cost. Solo travelers with no luggage may find a budget flight cheaper once you add parking and meals.

What's the best time of year to drive this route?

Spring and fall offer the most comfortable driving conditions and lighter holiday traffic.

Where's a good halfway stop?

Chicago, IL is roughly halfway and makes a natural fuel, food, or overnight break.

Best vehicles for this route

Estimated 669-mile fuel cost for each pick at average US prices. Tap any vehicle for a full cost breakdown.

Cheapest to drive

Toyota Prius

57 MPG · hybrid

~$40

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best EV

Lucid Air

134 MPGe · ev

~$27

est. one-way charging cost

See full breakdown

Best sedan

Hyundai Elantra

37 MPG · sedan

~$62

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best SUV for comfort

Nissan Rogue

33 MPG · suv

~$70

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Best truck for cargo

Ford Maverick

26 MPG · truck

~$89

est. one-way fuel cost

See full breakdown

Related routes

More routes like Columbus to Des Moines

Reverse drives, connecting routes and regional alternatives — each with distance and driving cost at current US gas prices.

Reverse drive

Des Moines to Columbus driving cost

669 mi · 10.8 h

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