Origin
Audubon, IA
Night in Audubon on Wednesday
Local time
10:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Audubon, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
79.4 mi
128 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 14m
★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Audubon, IA
Wikimedia Commons
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Audubon, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 79.4 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 71, Lincoln Street, 650th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.41 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
39.7 miles from Audubon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 20m drive with frequent turns across 79.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
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 West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 20m 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 West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 71 | — | — |
| Lincoln Street | — | — |
| 650th Street | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| Windsor Heights | — | — |
| 8th Street | — | — |
| Vine Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 71
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Audubon, IA and West 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
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
9
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
10
Turn left onto Vine Street
469 ft
·
13 sec
·
Vine Street
11
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 39.7 miles from Audubon, IA, or about 40m 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 17 miles or 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.7 miles or 40m 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 8m
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 Audubon, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Audubon, IA
This is one driving day of about 79.4 miles and 1h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Audubon, 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 39.7 mi from Audubon, IA · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.7 miles from Audubon, 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
$12.41 one way
$24.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.63 | $27.26 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.28 | $30.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.53 | $35.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.8 | 0 | $8.34 | $3.81 |
| Efficient EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.95 | $3.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.8 | 0 | $11.12 | $5.08 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Night in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
10:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 20m 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 West Des Moines, IA covers 79.4 miles and takes about 1h 20m 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 39.7 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 $12.41 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 West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 20m 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 West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Audubon, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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