Iowa diesel tax rate is 32.5¢ per gallon for 2026. Calculate your quarterly IFTA fuel tax liability for Iowa routes and compare to neighboring states.
Iowa at 32.5¢/gal sits slightly above the national average but is a key transit state for east-west freight. Des Moines is one of the Midwest's most important distribution hubs, and I-80 across Iowa is one of the highest truck-volume interstates in the country. Iowa's agriculture base — corn, soybeans, pork — generates massive outbound freight year-round.
I-80 (Omaha–Des Moines–Davenport–Chicago, primary east-west), I-35 (Kansas City–Des Moines–Minneapolis), I-380 (Cedar Rapids–Waterloo), I-29 (Missouri River corridor, south to KC)
The I-80/I-35 interchange at Des Moines is a critical decision point for Midwest routing. Neighboring Nebraska to the west (27.7¢) and Missouri to the south (19.0¢) both offer better rates, so most long-haul drivers prefer to fuel outside Iowa when possible. Iowa's winter weather makes reliable equipment essential — chains and winter tires are common from November through March.