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

The driving distance from Des Moines, IA to Camanche, IA is about 192.3 miles (309.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 42m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 173.4 miles (279.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 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
192.28 mi
03h 42m
Flight
173.46 mi
279.15 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
173.46 mi
Kilometers
279.15 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
192.28 mi
Kilometers
309.45 km
Drive Time
03h 42m

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 03h 42m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Camanche
Wed, Apr 15, 5:37 PM CDT
Return by in Des Moines
Wed, Apr 15, 9:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Moines
2026-04-15T13:54
Arrive Camanche
Wed, Apr 15, 5:37 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 42m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:42 AM to 11:42 AM CDT

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

Leave by
9:36 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

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Oxford
IA

City in Johnson County, Iowa, United States of America

From Des Moines
95.9 mi
01h 51m
To Camanche
96.4 mi
01h 51m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Today

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph S
Destination
74°F
This Afternoon

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 PM CDT
Wind
10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    162.7 mi · 2 hr 57 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Middle Road

    2578 ft · 58 sec

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Middle Road

    1 km · 1 min · Middle Road

  11. 11

    Continue on Middle Road

    108 m · 7 sec · Middle Road

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Indiana Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Indiana Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Wells Ferry Road

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Wells Ferry Road

  14. 14

    Continue on 240th Avenue

    6.1 mi · 8 min · 240th Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Bluff Road

    4 mi · 6 min · Bluff Road

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Great River Road

    3.7 mi · 5 min · Great River Road

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  18. 18

    Turn right onto 9th Street

    1 mi · 3 min · 9th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 9th Avenue

    99 m · 14 sec · 9th Avenue

  20. 20

    Turn left onto South Washington Boulevard

    885 ft · 24 sec · South Washington Boulevard

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Washington Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
21 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
163 mi · 85%
Great River Road
8.61 mi · 4%
240th Avenue
6.07 mi · 3%
Bluff Road
4.04 mi · 2%
John MacVicar Freeway
3.28 mi · 2%
Wells Ferry Road
1.45 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

163 mi · 02h 57m

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
03h 42m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.9 mi
173.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Oxford
01h 51m from Des Moines
Leave By
9:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Des Moines and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Camanche.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 192.3 miles (309.4 km) and usually takes 03h 42m 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?

Oxford is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.9 miles from Des Moines and 96.4 miles from Camanche.

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

The direct path is about 173.4 miles (279.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.9 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 9:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.57 one way or $51.13 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Des Moines and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Camanche.

Stop Ideas Near Oxford

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Oxford, 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 Oxford.

RAIL

Mount Pleasant

86 mi away
418 North Adams Street
RAIL

Ottumwa station

94 mi away
210 West Main Street
BUS

Davenport, Iowa

103 mi away
304 West River Drive
BUS

Rock Island, IL

106 mi away
3500 5th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Moines and Camanche. Straight-line distance: 173.46 mi (279.15 km).

Des Moines

#1 Des Moines

The capital of Iowa.

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

#2 Camanche

City in Clinton County, Iowa, United States

Population4,368
Coordinates41.7880900, -90.2562400
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Moines (-93.60911, 41.60054)
End: Camanche (-90.25624, 41.78809)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 309 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 50m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.78 gal
25.68 L · about $25.57
Round trip
$51.13
13.56 gal · 51.36 L
Estimated CO2
60.3 kg one way
Round trip: 120.5 kg / 266 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.57 $51.13
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.84 $57.67
Premium $4.65 $31.55 $63.11
Diesel $5.30 $35.96 $71.92

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Moines and Camanche. The current time is 13:54:39.

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.