Origin
Atkins, IA
Morning in Atkins on Thursday
Local time
10:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
114.1 mi
184 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atkins, IA
Tara Winstead
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 114.1 miles and takes about 1h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Park Ridge Road, 32nd Avenue, 73rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.84 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
57 miles from Atkins, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 114.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 56m drive with frequent turns across 114.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Park Ridge Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Park Ridge Road | — | — |
| 32nd Avenue | — | — |
| 73rd Street | — | — |
| Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| IA 330 | — | — |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | — | — |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | — | — |
| I 80 west | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Park Ridge Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atkins, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Main Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Avenue
2
Turn right onto Park Ridge Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Ridge Road
3
Turn left onto 32nd Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
32nd Avenue
4
Turn right onto 73rd Street
22 mi
·
25 min
·
73rd Street
5
Continue on Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
7
Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
8
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
10
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
11
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
12
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
13
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
14
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
15
Arrive at your destination
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 57 miles from Atkins, IA, or about 58m into the drive.
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 25 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57 miles or 58m 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 35m
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 Atkins, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Atkins, IA
This is one driving day of about 114.1 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Atkins, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57 mi from Atkins, IA · 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57 miles from Atkins, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.84 one way
$35.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.59 | $39.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.96 | $43.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.19 | $50.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.98 | $5.48 |
| Efficient EV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.98 | $4.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.6 | 0 | $15.97 | $7.30 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
10:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
57 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m 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 Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 114.1 miles and takes about 1h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Park Ridge Road, 32nd Avenue, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57 miles from Atkins, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.84 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.
The drive from Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Atkins, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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