Origin
Conrad, IA
Afternoon in Conrad on Friday
Local time
1:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Conrad, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
72.1 mi
116 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Conrad, IA
cottonbro studio
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Conrad, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 33m via IA 330, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Midwest, specifically remaining in Iowa for the entirety of your journey. It’s a straightforward trip, mostly on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick move or a short weekend getaway. You’ll find the route generally practical with minimal fuss, allowing you to get where you need to go efficiently. Consider this a reliable option when you need to cover ground without a lot of complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.1 miles from Conrad, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 72.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 69% of the journey on faster roads, so expect a good amount of time on paved, higher-speed routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 35.9 miles on IA 330, offering a consistent period of travel before any significant changes. As you progress, the main roads you'll be on include IA 330, John MacVicar Freeway, and Sanford Avenue. The profile suggests a fairly direct and uninterrupted experience for the majority of the trip, making it easy to maintain a steady pace.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 330 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 330 and John MacVicar Freeway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR D67 / West Center Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (CR D67 / West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IA 14 / Sanford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 55.9 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 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR D67 / West Center Street
Turn right onto CR D67 / West Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.6 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IA 14 / Sanford Avenue
Turn left onto IA 14 / Sanford Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
70.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m 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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 330 | 35.9 mi | 42m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Sanford Avenue | 7 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| US 65 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
| 160th Street | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| 330th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Main Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 330
— 35.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on North Main Street
74 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto CR D67
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
West Center Street
3
Continue on CR D67
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
330th Street
4
Turn left onto IA 14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
Sanford Avenue
5
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
6
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
7
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
8
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi
·
42 min
·
IA 330
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
11
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.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
14
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
15
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 33 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day, so you have flexibility with your departure time. There are no specified stops, so you can choose to make them as needed or power through. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as the estimated fuel cost is around $11. Since the longest stretch on IA 330 is 35.9 miles, plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly to ensure you're comfortable during that segment. This is a manageable drive, so you won't need to split it up, but it's always a good idea to take a short break if you feel tired.
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 36.1 miles from Conrad, IA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.1 miles or 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
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 Conrad, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Conrad, IA
This is one driving day of about 72.1 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Conrad, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 330 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.1 mi from Conrad, IA · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.1 miles from Conrad, 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
$11.27 one way
$22.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.38 | $24.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.87 | $27.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.92 | $31.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.57 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.09 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Friday
Local time
1:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
36 mi in
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
4 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 33m 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 Conrad, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 72.1 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 330, John MacVicar Freeway, Sanford Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.1 miles from Conrad, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.27 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 72.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (CR D67 / West Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (IA 14 / Sanford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 55.9 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Conrad, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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