Des Moines to Lake Havasu City: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1224.6 miles 1970.8 km · straight line
1469.5 miles estimated 2365 km · driving distance
29h 34min estimated drive time
$141 - $174 estimated fuel cost
~2h 58min flight time
253° WSW bearing direction

How far is Des Moines from Lake Havasu City?

The distance from Des Moines to Lake Havasu City is 1224.6 miles (1970.8 km) as the crow flies. Lake Havasu City is located WSW of Des Moines. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1469.5 miles, taking about 29h 34min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 58min. Both are located in United States — Des Moines in Iowa and Lake Havasu City in Arizona.

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. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. 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 Lake Havasu City. 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 Lake Havasu City

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 29h 34min $141 - $174 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 58min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~35h 29min $118–$220* Budget
Train ~38h 26min $176–$514* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Des Moines & Lake Havasu City

Quick Facts

Des Moines
41.59°N, 93.63°W
America/Chicago
291m elevation
Lake Havasu City
34.48°N, 114.32°W
America/Phoenix
225m elevation
Explore more routes from Lake Havasu City

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 408 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 102 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 20.3 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients