Trip from Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

84.2 mi

136 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Traveling from Audubon to Des Moines covers 84.2 miles across the heart of the Iowa Midwest. You can expect the journey to take approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes, making this a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of roughly $13, it is an affordable transit between the two locations. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should plan for a slower, more deliberate pace. This trip is ideal for those who prefer navigating local corridors over the monotony of high-speed transit. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a quick getaway, this drive offers a simple, direct connection.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

42.1 miles from Audubon, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that lacks the predictable rhythm of an interstate. You will primarily navigate via Highway 71, Lincoln Street, and 650th Street, with a highway share of 0%. Because there are no long stretches of highway, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns and transitions throughout the 84.2-mile journey. There is no significant uninterrupted stretch on Highway 71, so stay alert as you change roads. Behind the wheel, this means you will need to remain engaged with the navigation rather than settling into a cruise-control mindset.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Highway 71 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 24m 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 Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Highway 71	Unavailable	Refreshing
Lincoln Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
650th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
John MacVicar Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
East Village	Unavailable	Refreshing
Pennsylvania Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
East University Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Highway 71 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Audubon, IA and Des Moines, IA.

1

Start on South Market Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Market Street

2

Continue on Highway 71

12 mi · 16 min · Highway 71

3

Continue on Lincoln Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Street

4

Continue on Highway 71

2.5 mi · 3 min · Highway 71

5

Continue on 650th Street

0.6 mi · 55 sec · 650th Street

6

Turn left

62 mi · 1 hr 7 min

7

Keep slight left to continue on John MacVicar Freeway

8.9 mi · 11 min · John MacVicar Freeway

8

Take the exit slight right toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue

9

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue

10

Turn left onto East University Avenue

98 ft · 9 sec · East University Avenue

11

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Because you will be navigating local roads, keep a close eye on your GPS as you maneuver through the turns on Lincoln Street and 650th Street. Plan to fuel up before you leave Audubon, as the local nature of the roads means you won't have the convenience of frequent highway service stations along the way. Given the 1 hour and 24 minute duration, you can comfortably complete the trip without needing dedicated rest stops. Use this time to enjoy the local Iowa scenery, but prioritize staying focused on the frequent transitions required by this specific route.

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 42.1 miles from Audubon, IA, or about 42m 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 80 miles or 1h 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.1 miles or 42m 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 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Audubon, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Audubon, IA

This is one driving day of about 84.2 miles and 1h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Audubon, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.1 mi from Audubon, IA · 42m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukee, IA

42 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

West Des Moines, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukee, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.1 miles from Audubon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Des Moines, IA

The final approach into Des Moines, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Des Moines, IA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.79 one way

$25.58 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$14.10	$28.20
premium	$4.80	$15.90	$31.79
diesel	$5.64	$18.71	$37.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	25.3	$8.84	$4.04
Efficient EV	21.1	$7.37	$3.37
EV Truck/SUV	33.7	$11.79	$5.39

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Audubon, IA

Afternoon in Audubon on Sunday

Local time

2:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Des Moines, IA

Afternoon in Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

2:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 24m 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 Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 84.2 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Highway 71, Lincoln Street, 650th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 42.1 miles from Audubon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.79 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 Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 24m 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 Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.