Origin
Corydon, IA
Morning in Corydon on Saturday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Corydon, IA to 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 28m
Distance
71.4 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Corydon, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Corydon, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Jefferson Street, South Lafayette Street, East Jackson Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 71.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 28m drive with frequent turns across 71.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Jefferson Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Corydon, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Corydon, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Jefferson Street | — | — |
| South Lafayette Street | — | — |
| East Jackson Street | — | — |
| North Washington Street | — | — |
| Highway 14 | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Woodlawn Avenue | — | — |
| South 7th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Jefferson Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Corydon, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Franklin Street
85 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Franklin Street
2
Turn right onto West Jefferson Street
459 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto South Lafayette Street
459 ft
·
13 sec
·
South Lafayette Street
4
Turn left onto East Jackson Street
243 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Jackson Street
5
Turn right onto North Washington Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Washington Street
6
Continue on State Highway 14
16 mi
·
24 min
·
State Highway 14
7
Continue on Main Street
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Main Street
8
Turn straight onto State Highway 14
492 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 14
9
Continue on Woodlawn Avenue
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Woodlawn Avenue
10
At the end of the road, turn left onto South 7th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South 7th Street
11
Continue on State Highway 14
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 14
12
Turn left onto 260th Avenue
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
260th Avenue
13
Continue on 50th Place
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
50th Place
14
Continue on County Highway S45
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway S45
15
Turn right onto County Highway G76
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
County Highway G76
16
Turn left onto South Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
17
Continue on Northeast Main Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Northeast Main Street
18
At the end of the road, turn left onto B Street Northwest
367 ft
·
10 sec
·
B Street Northwest
19
Turn right onto 1st Street Northwest
463 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
20
Continue on County Road S45
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road S45
21
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
22
Continue on State Highway 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
23
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 69 North: Des Moines
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 69 North: Des Moines
25
Turn straight onto Southridge Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southridge Boulevard
26
Continue on Southeast 14th Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast 14th Street
27
Turn slight left onto Indianola Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Indianola Avenue
28
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 6th Street
29
Continue on East 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
East 6th Street
30
Turn right onto East Locust Street
492 ft
·
15 sec
·
East Locust Street
31
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
32
Turn left onto East University Avenue
98 ft
·
9 sec
·
East University Avenue
33
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.7 mi from Corydon, IA · 44m 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 35.7 miles from Corydon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.16 one way
$22.33 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.26 | $24.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.74 | $27.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.76 | $31.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25 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 | 21.4 | 0 | $7.50 | $3.43 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.25 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.00 | $4.57 |
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
Des Moines, IA
Morning in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
6:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
36 mi in
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
1 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 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 Corydon, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 71.4 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Jefferson Street, South Lafayette Street, East Jackson Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.7 miles from Corydon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.16 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.
The drive from Corydon, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Corydon, IA to Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Corydon, IA to 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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