Origin
Carlisle, IA
Evening in Carlisle on Wednesday
Local time
6:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carlisle, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
23m
Distance
16.2 mi
26 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 28m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 25m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlisle, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carlisle, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 16.2 miles and takes about 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, IA 28, IA 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 7.5 miles on Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.53 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
8.1 miles from Carlisle, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive from Carlisle, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 16.2 miles and takes about 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 7 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 7.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IA 5.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 23m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 5
Turn right onto IA 5
Navigation decision point
3
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
10.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
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 99
Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
3
11.1 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
IA 28
Turn right onto IA 28
Navigation decision point
3
15.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
Vine Street
Turn left onto Vine Street
Navigation decision point
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 Carlisle, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Martensdale along the way.
Martensdale
10.5 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| IA 28 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| IA 5 | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Vine Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 5th Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
— 7.5 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlisle, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on North 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North 5th Street
2
Turn right onto IA 5
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
IA 5
3
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
4
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 99
Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn right onto IA 28
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
IA 28
6
Turn left onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street
7
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 8.1 miles from Carlisle, IA, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 7.5 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 16 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.1 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19m
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 Carlisle, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carlisle, IA
This is one driving day of about 16.2 miles and 23m.
At 16.2 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for about 7.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.1 mi from Carlisle, IA · 10m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.1 miles from Carlisle, 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
$2.53 one way
$5.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.12 | $6.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.58 | $7.15 |
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: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.70 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.42 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.27 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Evening in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
6:18 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
23m 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 Carlisle, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 16.2 miles and takes about 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, IA 28, IA 5. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.1 miles from Carlisle, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.53 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 is a straightforward 23m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 10.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Carlisle, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Martensdale along the way.
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