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

The driving distance from Des Moines, IA to Postville, IA is about 186.4 miles (300 km), with a travel time of about 04h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 146.2 miles (235.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 15m 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
186.42 mi
04h 07m
Flight
146.21 mi
235.3 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
146.21 mi
Kilometers
235.3 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
186.42 mi
Kilometers
300.01 km
Drive Time
04h 07m

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 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Postville
Thu, Apr 23, 12:05 PM CDT
Return by in Des Moines
Thu, Apr 23, 4:13 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Moines
2026-04-23T07:57
Arrive Postville
Thu, Apr 23, 12:05 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 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
8:44 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
Dike
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Des Moines
93.1 mi
02h 03m
To Postville
93.3 mi
02h 03m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Thursday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 21 mph S
Destination
73°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
13 to 22 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    35.2 mi · 42 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  14. 14

    Continue on 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  19. 19

    Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  21. 21

    Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

    2388 ft · 58 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    11.2 mi · 13 min

  23. 23

    Take the exit slight right toward CR D18: Cedar Falls

    2133 ft · 1 min

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Grundy Road

    1.6 km · 1 min · Grundy Road

  25. 25

    Continue on University Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · University Avenue

  26. 26

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Greenhill Road

    2 m · 1 sec · Greenhill Road

  27. 27

    Exit the roundabout onto Greenhill Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Greenhill Road

  28. 28

    Turn left onto Avenue of the Saints

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Avenue of the Saints

  29. 29

    Take the exit slight right toward US 218 South: Waterloo

    1.4 km · 2 min

  30. 30

    Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway

    1.1 km · 48 sec · Leo P Rooff Expressway

  31. 31

    Take the exit slight right toward Broadway Street: Airport

    2340 ft · 1 min

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Airport Boulevard

    1496 ft · 36 sec · Airport Boulevard

  33. 33

    Turn right onto West Airline Highway

    3 mi · 5 min · West Airline Highway

  34. 34

    Turn left onto Logan Avenue

    6.9 mi · 8 min · Logan Avenue

  35. 35

    Continue on Larrabee Avenue

    22.8 mi · 26 min · Larrabee Avenue

  36. 36

    Take the exit slight right

    1912 ft · 57 sec

  37. 37

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 270th Street

    5.4 mi · 7 min · 270th Street

  38. 38

    Continue on West Main Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  39. 39

    Continue on 270th Street

    5.5 mi · 8 min · 270th Street

  40. 40

    Continue on 230th Street

    13 mi · 18 min · 230th Street

  41. 41

    Continue on West Bradford Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · West Bradford Street

  42. 42

    Continue on Harding Road

    16.9 mi · 23 min · Harding Road

  43. 43

    Turn left onto North Lawler Street

    12 m · 1 sec · North Lawler Street

  44. 44

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Lawler Street

Car Route Details

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

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
44 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
14
4 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
23.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi · 19%
Larrabee Avenue
23.1 mi · 12%
Harding Road
16.9 mi · 9%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 9%
230th Street
13 mi · 7%
US 20 East
11.7 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Northeast Hubbell Road

Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

35.2 mi · 00h 42m

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 07m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+40.2 mi
146.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dike
02h 03m from Des Moines
Leave By
8:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Des Moines and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Postville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 186.4 miles (300 km) and usually takes 04h 07m 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?

Dike is a useful midpoint, sitting about 93.1 miles from Des Moines and 93.3 miles from Postville.

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

The direct path is about 146.2 miles (235.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 40.2 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 8:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.81 one way or $49.63 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 58.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Moines and Postville. Straight-line distance: 146.21 mi (235.3 km).

Des Moines

#1 Des Moines

The capital of Iowa.

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

#2 Postville

City in Iowa, United States of America

Population2,033
Coordinates43.0847000, -91.5682000
Altitude360
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Moines (-93.60911, 41.60054)
End: Postville (-91.5682, 43.0847)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 300 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 19m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.58 gal
24.9 L · about $24.81
Round trip
$49.63
13.16 gal · 49.8 L
Estimated CO2
58.5 kg one way
Round trip: 117 kg / 258 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $24.81 $49.63
Mid-grade $4.25 $27.98 $55.97
Premium $4.65 $30.62 $61.25
Diesel $5.30 $34.90 $69.80

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Moines and Postville. The current time is 07:57:54.

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.