24/7 Towing & Roadside Help in Johnston, Iowa
Des Moines Roadside Rescue answers (515) 585-8351 24/7 in Johnston, where a tow starts from $124. Give us the I-80 exit, 129 at NW 86th Street or 131 at Merle Hay Road, and your direction, or your street and cross street.
Answered day and night, 24/7. Hear the price and the timing, say yes, and help is dispatched.
Tell us the road, the nearest exit or mile marker, or the cross street where you stopped.
Each price is a starting price. Availability, late hours, the distance, the weather and the vehicle can raise it. You get the final number on the call, before anything is set in motion.
Prices updated November 2026.
Key takeaways
- A tow in Johnston starts from $124, from the Merle Hay Road ramps or a side street.
- Johnston's I-80 exits are 129 for Camp Dodge and 131 for Merle Hay Road.
- A car left on a Johnston street in a snow emergency gets a $25 ticket.
- Near the Des Moines River bridge, tell us whether you stopped short of it or past it.
Johnston's I-80 exits: Camp Dodge and Merle Hay Road
Johnston is bounded by I-80 on the south and the Des Moines River on the east. It takes in part of Saylorville Reservoir and reaches west to about half a mile east of Iowa 141. Two I-80 exits serve it:
- Exit 129: NW 86th Street, signed for Camp Dodge, the military reservation in Johnston.
- Exit 131: Iowa 28 (Merle Hay Road), signed for Saylorville Lake.
Merle Hay Road carries Iowa 28 north to its end at the interstates. Johnston is a Polk County city, and the Census Bureau's July 1, 2024 estimate counted about 25,022 residents.
The Des Moines River bridge east of Merle Hay Road
East of the Merle Hay Road exit, I-35/I-80 crosses the Des Moines River just south of the mouth of Beaver Creek. The bridge sits about 4 miles before the Iowa 415 exit. A bridge leaves no room to wait, so if the car falters near it, try to clear the bridge before you stop. Then pull onto the right shoulder, hazards on and belt on, and stay in the car rather than walking toward an exit.
If someone is hurt, or the car is stuck in a travel lane by the Camp Dodge exit or the river bridge, call 911 first.
Johnston snow emergency rules
Once Johnston declares a snow emergency, parking is banned on city streets, alleys and city-owned off-street lots. The ban runs from the proclamation until 5 p.m. the following day, and the city can extend it. A car left on a Johnston street is ticketed $25 and may be towed and impounded at the owner's expense.
For the February 19, 2026 snow, the ban ran from 4 p.m. Thursday to 5 p.m. Friday, and every vehicle had to be off city streets. A car the city impounds is released through the city, not by us.
Tow truck prices in Johnston
From the Merle Hay Road ramps or a Johnston side street, a tow starts from $124. A jump start costs from $85, and opening a locked car from $85. A spare-tire change runs from $98, and a winch-out from $129 if the car slid off near Saylorville Lake.
Central Des Moines is about 8.7 road miles away, mostly on Beaver Avenue. It is roughly 17 minutes with no traffic, per an OSRM route computed in October 2026. A longer tow, crash work or storage adds to the total.
Call (515) 585-8351 and tell us three things: your direction, the last exit you passed (129 or 131), and whether you are short of the river bridge or past it. Weekend or weekday, we quote the price and timing before a tow truck or roadside technician goes out.
Johnston questions
Which I-80 exit is Camp Dodge?
Exit 129, NW 86th Street, is the I-80 exit signed for Camp Dodge in Johnston. Exit 131, Merle Hay Road, is the next one east. If the car needs a tow near either exit, tell us the number and your direction so we can quote the job.
What happens if my car stays on a Johnston street in a snow emergency?
It is ticketed $25 and may be towed and impounded at your expense. The Johnston ban covers city streets, alleys and city-owned lots until 5 p.m. the day after the proclamation, or longer if extended. If the car will not start, call (515) 585-8351 and we can jump it or tow it off the street.
Can I get a tow from I-80 at Merle Hay Road on a weekend?
Yes, any hour of any day; call (515) 585-8351, which we answer 24/7. Say exit 131 and your direction, keep your belt on with the hazards flashing, and dial 911 first if you are stuck in a lane. We tow from Johnston to your own mechanic once you have the price.
How much for a tow off I-80 in Johnston?
A tow from the Johnston exits starts from $124, covering the hook-up and the first stretch of road. Central Des Moines is about 8.7 road miles away, so tell us where the car should go. Crash work or storage adds to it, and you hear the full total on the call.
Can you get my car out of the snow near Saylorville Lake?
Yes, a winch-out near Saylorville Lake in Johnston starts from $129 when the car can be reached safely from the road. If it cannot be driven afterwards, we quote a tow on the same call. Exit 131, Merle Hay Road, is the I-80 exit signed for the lake.