Origin
Des Moines, IA
Morning in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
10:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to Ogden, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
48.2 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Ogden, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Ogden, IA covers 48.2 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northwest Granger Drive, H Avenue, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.6 miles on Northwest Granger Drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.54 one way before food or hotel costs.
About the Cities
Starting in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), and a big annual arts festival that draws visitors from across Iowa and beyond.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 48.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (15%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 6m drive with frequent turns across 48.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northwest Granger Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 15.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 6m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Turn left toward I 35 South, I 80 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80 West
5
4.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
11.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
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 127
Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
5
33.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
4
48.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
CR E41 / East Walnut Street
Turn right onto CR E41 / East Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Des Moines, IA and Ogden, IA, road signs point toward Grimes and Adel.
Grimes
11.6 mi in
|
~17m
Adel
33.9 mi in
|
~45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Granger Drive | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| H Avenue | 11.6 mi | 15m |
| I 80 | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| 2nd Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| N Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Northeast Grimes Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Northwest Granger Drive
— 15.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Ogden, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East University Avenue
2
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
3
Continue on IA 415
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 35 South, I 80 West
5
Merge onto I 80; I 35
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 127
Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto IA 141
195 ft
·
3 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
8
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
9
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
10
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
11
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
Toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
13
Turn right onto US 169
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
14
Continue on US 169
12 mi
·
15 min
·
H Avenue
15
Turn slight left onto South 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 1st Street
16
Turn right onto CR E41
87 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Walnut Street
17
Arrive at destination
CR E41
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.1 mi from Des Moines, IA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ogden, IA
The final approach into Ogden, 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
$7.54 one way
$15.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.27 | $16.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.28 | $18.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.64 | $21.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.06 | $2.31 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.22 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.75 | $3.08 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Ogden, IA
Morning in Ogden on Saturday
Local time
10:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m 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 Des Moines, IA to Ogden, IA covers 48.2 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northwest Granger Drive, H Avenue, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.1 miles from Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.54 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 straightforward 1h 6m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Des Moines, IA and Ogden, IA, road signs point toward Grimes and Adel.
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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