The drive from Corydon, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 85.7 miles and takes about 1h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, State Highway 2, Northwest Church Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.2 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.40 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.
Midpoint
42.8 miles from Corydon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 85.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 50m highway drive covering 85.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and State Highway 2. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.2 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 2. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 2 / West Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Corydon, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 50m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (US 69 / Northwest Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 34 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Turn left onto IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
4
22.9 mi into trip|~34m in|US 69 / Northwest Church Street
Turn right onto US 69 / Northwest Church Street
Navigation decision point
5
34 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the ramp toward Webb
Navigation decision point
Toward Webb
8
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue, DMACC West Campus
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 69
Toward Grand Avenue, DMACC West Campus
6
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Corydon, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Webb and Dmacc West Campus.
Webb
34 mi in|~50m
Dmacc West Campus
80.5 mi in|~1h 40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
46.2 mi
49m
State Highway 2
21.6 mi
32m
Northwest Church Street
9.4 mi
13m
Grand Avenue
3.9 mi
7m
120th Street
1 mi
1m
Vine Street
0.8 mi
2m
Line Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Jefferson Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 46.2 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Corydon, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Franklin Street
86 ft·9 sec·South Franklin Street
2
Turn left onto IA 2
0.7 mi·1 min·West Jefferson Street
3
Continue on IA 2
22 mi·32 min·State Highway 2
4
Continue on IA 2
0.6 mi·55 sec·East 1st Street
5
Turn right onto US 69
9.4 mi·13 min·Northwest Church Street
6
Turn left onto 120th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·120th Street
7
Continue on CR J14
0.7 mi·1 min·Line Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Webb
9
Merge onto I 35
46 mi·49 min·I 35
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 69Toward Grand Avenue, DMACC West CampusUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
3.9 mi·7 min·Grand Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Vine Street
13
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 42.8 miles from Corydon, IA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.2 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.8 miles or 1h 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 32m
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 Corydon, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Corydon, IA
This is one driving day of about 85.7 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Corydon, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 46.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.8 mi from Corydon, IA
· 1h into the drive
The midpoint is around 42.8 miles from Corydon, 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
St. Kilda Collective
4.5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
West Des Moines, Iowa
Near the end, right off the route
0.3 mi from route
~1 min detour
Moderately
mile 85.7
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.40 one way
$26.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.71
$29.42
premium
$4.89
$16.49
$32.98
diesel
$5.61
$18.92
$37.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$9.00
$4.11
Efficient EV
21.4
0
$7.50
$3.43
EV Truck/SUV
34.3
0
$12.00
$5.48
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Corydon, IA
Morning
in Corydon on Saturday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 16 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Morning
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
6:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Osceola, IA
43 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
16 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 50m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 West Des Moines, IA covers 85.7 miles and takes about 1h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, State Highway 2, Northwest Church Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.8 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 $13.40 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 West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 50m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (US 69 / Northwest Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 34 miles: Navigation decision point.
Between Corydon, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Webb and Dmacc West Campus.
