Origin
Bondurant, IA
Evening in Bondurant on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bondurant, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
19.3 mi
31 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bondurant, IA
Ron Lach
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Bondurant, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 19.3 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on John MacVicar Freeway, US 65, Northeast Hubbell Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.4 miles on John MacVicar Freeway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.02 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
9.6 miles from Bondurant, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 28m highway drive covering 19.3 miles, with most of the trip on John MacVicar Freeway and US 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.4 miles on John MacVicar Freeway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
John MacVicar Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 9.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on John MacVicar Freeway and US 65. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Grant Street South.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Grant Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Grant Street South
Turn left onto Grant Street South
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road
Turn right onto US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road
Navigation decision point
7
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
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.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
17.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
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 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
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 Bondurant, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Windsor Heights along the way.
Windsor Heights
17.5 mi in
|
~24m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John MacVicar Freeway | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| US 65 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| 63rd Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Grant Street South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Vine Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John MacVicar Freeway
— 9.4 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bondurant, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on 1st Street Southeast
300 ft
·
18 sec
·
1st Street Southeast
2
Turn left onto Grant Street South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Grant Street South
3
Turn right onto US 65; IA 330
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
4
Continue on US 65; IA 330
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
5
Take the exit onto US 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
7
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
10
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
11
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 9.6 miles from Bondurant, IA, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.4 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 19 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.6 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Bondurant, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bondurant, IA
This is one driving day of about 19.3 miles and 28m.
At 19.3 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on John MacVicar Freeway for about 9.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.6 mi from Bondurant, IA · 14m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.6 miles from Bondurant, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Des Moines, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into West Des Moines, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.02 one way
$6.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.31 | $6.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.71 | $7.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.26 | $8.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| Efficient EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.7 | 0 | $2.70 | $1.24 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Evening in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
6:09 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
20 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
28m 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 Bondurant, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 19.3 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are John MacVicar Freeway, US 65, Northeast Hubbell Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.6 miles from Bondurant, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.02 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 19.3 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Grant Street South): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 65; IA 330 / Northeast Hubbell Road): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Bondurant, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Windsor Heights along the way.
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