The drive from Albia, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 68.9 miles and takes about 1h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IA 5, State Highway 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on IA 5.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.5 miles from Albia, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 68.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 31m highway drive covering 68.9 miles, with most of the trip on IA 5 and State Highway 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and State Highway 5. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 2nd Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 31m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 5 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|South 2nd Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Turn left onto CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 5 / North Main Street
Turn right onto IA 5 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 5
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
63.2 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 99
Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Albia, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Martensdale along the way.
Martensdale
63.2 mi in|~1h 21m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
35.9 mi
49m
State Highway 5
19.2 mi
22m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
7.5 mi
8m
IA 28
4.7 mi
7m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Benton Avenue East
<0.1 mi
<1m
South 2nd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 35.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albia, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft·12 sec·South 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft·9 sec·Benton Avenue East
4
Turn right onto IA 5
0.3 mi·30 sec·North Main Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 5
25 mi·37 min·IA 5
6
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi·12 min·IA 5
7
Turn right
0.1 mi·7 sec
8
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 5
9
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
7.5 mi·8 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 99Toward IA 28: Norwalk, MartensdaleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto IA 28
4.7 mi·7 min·IA 28
12
Turn left onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Vine Street
13
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.5 miles from Albia, IA, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.5 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albia, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albia, IA
This is one driving day of about 68.9 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Albia, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 34.5 miles from Albia, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Des Moines, IA
The final approach into West Des Moines, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
West Des Moines, Iowa
Near the end, short detour
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 68.9
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.77 one way
$21.54 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$11.83
$23.65
premium
$4.89
$13.26
$26.52
diesel
$5.61
$15.21
$30.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.7
0
$7.23
$3.31
Efficient EV
17.2
0
$6.03
$2.76
EV Truck/SUV
27.6
0
$9.65
$4.41
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Albia, IA
Late night
in Albia on Saturday
Local time
3:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
3:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
34 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 31m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Albia, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 68.9 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 5, State Highway 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.5 miles from Albia, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.77 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 31m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 5 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Albia, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Martensdale along the way.
