Origin
Dallas Center, IA
Morning in Dallas Center on Saturday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas Center, IA to West 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
31m
Distance
20.7 mi
33 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 29m
★
6 AM
0h 32m
8 AM
0h 37m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 33m
3 PM
0h 34m
5 PM
0h 37m
8 PM
0h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas Center, IA
Wikimedia Commons
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dallas Center, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 20.7 miles and takes about 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 6, R Avenue, John MacVicar Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.4 miles on US 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 31m. Total distance: 20.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 31m highway drive covering 20.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 6 and R Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.4 miles on US 6.
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.
US 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and R Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR R16 / 13th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 20.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR R16 / 13th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 R16 / 13th Street
Turn sharp left onto CR R16 / 13th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
8
14.3 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west
6
15.5 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
Ramp 72 I
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
8
19.1 mi into trip
|
~28m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dallas Center, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
Des Moines
15.8 mi in
|
~23m
|
via Ramp 72 I
Windsor Heights
19.1 mi in
|
~28m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 9.4 mi | 14m |
| R Avenue | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| 8th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| I 80 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 13th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Ramp 72 I | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 35 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 9.4 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas Center, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
32 ft
·
10 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn sharp left onto CR R16
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
13th Street
3
Continue on CR R16
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
R Avenue
4
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
9.4 mi
·
14 min
·
US 6
Use the left lane.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west
Use the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 80; I 35
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80; I 35
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ramp 72 I
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Use the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vine Street
13
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.24 one way
$6.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.55 | $7.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.98 | $7.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.57 | $9.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.90 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Morning in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
6:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 12 mph
0% chance
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
11 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
31m 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 Dallas Center, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 20.7 miles and takes about 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 6, R Avenue, John MacVicar Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.3 miles from Dallas Center, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.24 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 short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 20.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 31m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR R16 / 13th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Dallas Center, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
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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