Origin
Baxter, IA
Afternoon in Baxter on Wednesday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
57m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Baxter, IA
Tara Winstead
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Baxter to West Des Moines, you are looking at a straightforward 39.4-mile trip that typically takes about 57 minutes to complete. Because this journey is well under an hour, it is perfectly suited for a single-day outing or a quick commute between these two Midwest locations. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel, making it a very economical excursion. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, including US 65, the John MacVicar Freeway, and Highway F17 West. Since the entire drive stays within Iowa, you won't experience any significant regional shifts, allowing you to focus on a consistent, efficient transit between the two points.
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
19.7 miles from Baxter, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with roughly 73% of your time spent on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.2 miles along US 65. The transition between rural roads like Highway F17 West and the more robust John MacVicar Freeway defines the character of this trip. While it lacks the winding complexity of backroad travel, the route offers a reliable and fast experience. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers or frequent turns.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Buchanan Street 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 Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 57m 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 Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway F17 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Highway F17 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 117 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 65 south | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 west | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 235 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John MacVicar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Buchanan Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baxter, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Buchanan Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
Buchanan Street
3
Continue on Highway F17 West
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway F17 West
4
Continue on County Highway F17
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway F17
5
Turn right onto State Highway 117
344 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 117
6
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
7
Take the ramp left toward US 65 south, IA 330 south: Des Moines
15 mi
·
18 min
·
US 65 south, IA 330 south: Des Moines
8
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
9
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
10
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
11
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
12
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
13
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 57-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic on the John MacVicar Freeway is always a smart move. Because the trip is so brief, you likely won't need to plan for any formal stops, allowing you to reach West Des Moines without interruption. Keep your $6 fuel budget in mind when planning, as filling up before you leave Baxter ensures you won't need to worry about stops along the way. Since this is a high-speed route, stay alert when transitioning from the quieter sections of Highway F17 West onto the busier freeway segments. Use this efficiency to your advantage by scheduling your arrival exactly when you need to be there.
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 19.7 miles from Baxter, IA, or about 28m 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 39.4 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.7 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 48m
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 Baxter, 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 Baxter, IA
This is one driving day of about 39.4 miles and 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Baxter, 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 19.7 mi from Baxter, IA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Baxter, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around West 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
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.76 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.58 | $15.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
2:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
2 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
57m 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 Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 39.4 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Buchanan Street, Highway F17 West, County Highway F17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.7 miles from Baxter, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.16 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 Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 57m 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 Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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