Des Moines to Hartford: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1078.6 miles 1735.9 km · straight line
1294.4 miles estimated 2083.1 km · driving distance
26h 2min estimated drive time
$125 - $153 estimated fuel cost
~2h 40min flight time
82° E bearing direction

How far is Des Moines from Hartford?

The distance from Des Moines to Hartford is 1078.6 miles (1735.9 km) as the crow flies. Hartford is located E of Des Moines. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1294.4 miles, taking about 26h 2min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 40min. Both are located in United States — Des Moines in Iowa and Hartford in Connecticut.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Des Moines and Hartford. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Des Moines to Hartford

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 26h 2min $125 - $153 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 40min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~31h 14min $104–$194* Budget
Train ~33h 51min $155–$453* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Des Moines & Hartford

Quick Facts

Des Moines
41.59°N, 93.63°W
America/Chicago
291m elevation
Hartford
41.77°N, 72.67°W
America/New_York
18m elevation
Explore more routes from Hartford

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 360 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 90 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 23.1 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients