Trip from Centerville, IA to Des Moines, IA

Drive Time

59m

Distance

53.6 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Centerville, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 53.6 miles and takes about 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 188th Road, Mallard Avenue, West 12th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.96 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

26.8 miles from Centerville, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 59m drive with frequent turns across 53.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

188th Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
188th Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Mallard Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
West 12th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Marion Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Mamie Eisenhower Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
West 3rd Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
Corporal Roger Snedden Drive	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: 188th Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Leaf Road

2

Turn left onto 188th Road

3

Continue on Mallard Avenue

4

Keep slight left to continue on Mallard Avenue

5

Continue on West 12th Street

6

At the end of the road, turn right onto Marion Street

7

Turn left onto West Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

8

Continue on West 3rd Street

9

Continue on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

10

Turn right onto Corporal Roger Snedden Drive

11

Turn left onto 220th Street

12

Continue on 230th Street

13

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 Business South, I 35 South: Des Moines

14

Keep slight left to continue on I 235 West: Des Moines

15

Continue on John MacVicar Freeway

16

Take the exit slight right toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village

17

Keep slight right to continue on East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue

18

Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

19

Turn left onto East University Avenue

20

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 26.8 miles from Centerville, IA, or about 29m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 53.6 miles or 59m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 26.8 miles or 29m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Centerville, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Centerville, IA

This is one driving day of about 53.6 miles and 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Centerville, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

27 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into 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 Des Moines, IA.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 26.8 mi from Centerville, IA

West Des Moines, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 26.8 miles from Centerville, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.77	$7.96	$15.92
midgrade	$4.25	$8.97	$17.95
premium	$4.65	$9.82	$19.64
diesel	$5.30	$11.19	$22.39

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Centerville, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 53.6 miles and takes about 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 188th Road, Mallard Avenue, West 12th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 26.8 miles from Centerville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.96 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.