Origin
Boone, IA
Night in Boone on Friday
Local time
10:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Boone, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
41.5 mi
67 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boone, IA
Wikimedia Commons
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Boone, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 41.5 miles and takes about 1h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on S Avenue, Northwest 142nd Street, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.3 miles on S Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 41.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h drive with frequent turns across 41.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
S Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 41.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 32.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.3 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
32.3 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
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-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Coun...
5
33 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
36.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
36.7 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
Ramp 72 I
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
8
39.9 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Boone, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
Council Bluffs
32.3 mi in
|
~47m
Des Moines
36.7 mi in
|
~52m
|
via Ramp 72 I
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| S Avenue | 12.3 mi | 17m |
| Northwest 142nd Street | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| I 80 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Mamie Eisenhower Avenue | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 1.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
S Avenue
— 12.3 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Boone, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
2
Continue on CR E41
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
3
Turn right onto Robin Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Robin Road
4
Turn right onto IA 17
12 mi
·
17 min
·
S Avenue
5
Continue on IA 17
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
State Highway 17
6
Continue on IA 17
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Y Avenue
7
Continue on State Highway 17
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
State Highway 17
8
Continue on Northwest 142nd Street
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Northwest 142nd Street
9
Enter roundabout onto IA 17
110 ft
·
2 sec
·
Northwest 142nd Street
10
Continue on IA 17
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Northwest 142nd Street
11
Take the ramp onto IA 17
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
IA 17
12
Merge onto IA 141
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
13
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
14
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
15
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
16
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ramp 72 I
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Use the right lane.
21
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vine Street
25
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.8 mi from Boone, IA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.8 miles from Boone, 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
$6.49 one way
$12.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.12 | $14.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.99 | $15.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.16 | $18.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.36 | $1.99 |
| Efficient EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.63 | $1.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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 Friday
Local time
10:49 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
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
1h 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 Boone, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 41.5 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are S Avenue, Northwest 142nd Street, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.8 miles from Boone, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.49 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 41.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 32.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.3 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Boone, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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