How far is Des Moines, IA from Bellevue, IA?

The driving distance from Des Moines, IA to Bellevue, IA is about 206.4 miles (332.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.9 miles (273.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
206.34 mi
04h 12m
Flight
169.96 mi
273.53 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Des Moines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.96 mi
Kilometers
273.53 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
206.34 mi
Kilometers
332.08 km
Drive Time
04h 12m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bellevue
Sun, Apr 12, 11:41 AM CDT
Return by in Des Moines
Sun, Apr 12, 3:53 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Moines
2026-04-12T07:29
Arrive Bellevue
Sun, Apr 12, 11:41 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:12 AM to 12:12 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Des Moines
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Atkins
IA

City in Benton County, Iowa, United States

From Des Moines
103 mi
02h 06m
To Bellevue
103.3 mi
02h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
72°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Des Moines and Bellevue.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines and Bellevue.

  1. 1

    Start on East University Avenue

    147 m · 39 sec · East University Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn uturn onto East University Avenue

    2836 ft · 1 min · East University Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East 14th Street

    1908 ft · 58 sec · East 14th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet

    1.3 km · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

    1476 ft · 36 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

    1628 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    3.4 mi · 4 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

    2428 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

    33.5 mi · 39 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  12. 12

    Take the exit right

    2792 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

    37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on 73rd Street

    26.8 mi · 31 min · 73rd Street

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

    1.6 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    9.4 mi · 11 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Collins Road Northeast

  18. 18

    Turn left

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Marion Airport Road

    24.1 mi · 28 min · Marion Airport Road

  20. 20

    Continue on 200th Avenue

    32.4 mi · 37 min · 200th Avenue

  21. 21

    Keep slight left

    3.5 mi · 5 min

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Bellevue Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Bellevue Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Great River Road

    9.1 mi · 12 min · Great River Road

  24. 24

    Continue on Main Street

    2641 ft · 55 sec · Main Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Great River Road

    7.6 mi · 10 min · Great River Road

  26. 26

    Continue on North Riverview Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · North Riverview Street

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Riverview Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Des Moines and Bellevue.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
27 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Lincoln Highway
37 mi · 18%
200th Avenue
35.9 mi · 17%
Northeast Hubbell Road
34 mi · 16%
73rd Street
26.8 mi · 13%
Marion Airport Road
24.1 mi · 12%
Great River Road
16.7 mi · 8%
Longest Stretch

Lincoln Highway

Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

37 mi · 00h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 12m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.5 mi
169.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Atkins
02h 06m from Des Moines
Leave By
8:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Des Moines and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Bellevue.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 206.4 miles (332.1 km) and usually takes 04h 12m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Atkins is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103 miles from Des Moines and 103.3 miles from Bellevue.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 169.9 miles (273.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.45 one way or $54.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Des Moines and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Bellevue.

Stop Ideas Near Atkins

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Atkins, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Atkins.

RAIL

Mount Pleasant

117 mi away
418 North Adams Street
RAIL

Ottumwa station

118 mi away
210 West Main Street
BUS

Davenport, Iowa

119 mi away
304 West River Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Moines and Bellevue. Straight-line distance: 169.96 mi (273.53 km).

Des Moines

#1 Des Moines

The capital of Iowa.

Population212,312
Coordinates41.6005400, -93.6091100
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Bellevue

#2 Bellevue

City in Jackson County, Iowa, United States

Population2,185
Coordinates42.2586300, -90.4229100
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Moines (-93.60911, 41.60054)
End: Bellevue (-90.42291, 42.25863)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 332 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.28 gal
27.56 L · about $27.45
Round trip
$54.91
14.56 gal · 55.12 L
Estimated CO2
64.7 kg one way
Round trip: 129.4 kg / 285 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.45 $54.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.96 $61.92
Premium $4.65 $33.88 $67.76
Diesel $5.30 $38.61 $77.23

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Moines and Bellevue. The current time is 07:29:30.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.