The drive from Des Moines, IA to Red Oak, IA covers 118.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, 110 Street, 550th Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.6 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.54 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.3 miles from Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
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.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Red Oak, IA covers 118.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East University Avenue
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 west
Navigation decision point
Toward I-235 west
5
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
9.8 mi into trip|~13m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Des Moines, IA to Red Oak, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Audubon along the way.
Audubon
71.4 mi in|~1h 19m|via US 6
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
61.6 mi
1h 6m
110 Street
14 mi
20m
550th Street
10 mi
14m
John MacVicar Freeway
9 mi
11m
White Pole Road
9 mi
13m
650th Street
6.5 mi
9m
East 7th Street
3.5 mi
6m
Adair Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Red Oak, IA.
1
Start on East University Avenue
481 ft·39 sec·East University Avenue
2
Turn uturn onto East University Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·East University Avenue
3
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi·17 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
4
Continue on East 6th Street
0.1 mi·18 sec·East 6th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I-235 west
6
Merge onto I 235
9.0 mi·11 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 80
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
9
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi·9 min·650th Street
10
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
3.5 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
11
Continue on US 6; IA 83
0.1 mi·20 sec·White Pole Road
12
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·1 min·West 7th Street
13
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest 7th Street
14
Continue on US 6
8.9 mi·13 min·White Pole Road
15
Turn left onto IA 48
5.3 mi·7 min·550th Street
16
Continue on IA 48
1.0 mi·1 min·Adair Street
17
Continue on IA 48
4.8 mi·7 min·550th Street
18
Continue on IA 48
0.9 mi·1 min·M Avenue
19
Continue on IA 48
14 mi·20 min·110 Street
20
Turn left onto West Hammond Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Hammond Street
21
Turn right onto North 7th Street
300 ft·15 sec·North 7th Street
22
Turn right onto East Reed Street
329 ft·14 sec·East Reed Street
23
Arrive at destination
East Reed 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.3 miles from Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.3 miles or 1h 6m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Oak, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Des Moines, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 118.6 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 61.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.3 mi from Des Moines, IA
· 1h 6m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.45
$5.69
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.38
$4.74
EV Truck/SUV
47.4
0
$16.60
$7.59
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Red Oak, IA
Morning
in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
11:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
2h 32m 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 Red Oak, IA covers 118.6 miles and takes about 2h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, 110 Street, 550th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.3 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 $18.54 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 32m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Des Moines, IA to Red Oak, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Audubon along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
