Origin
Farley, IA
Afternoon in Farley on Monday
Local time
2:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
3h 5m
Distance
186.8 mi
301 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 54m
★
6 AM
3h 6m
8 AM
3h 29m
10 AM
3h 14m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 15m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Des Moines, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
The drive from Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 186.8 miles and takes about 3h 5m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Park Street Southwest, Farley Road, US 30 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.37 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
93.4 miles from Farley, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 5m drive with frequent turns across 186.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Park Street Southwest 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 3h 5m 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 Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Park Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Farley Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 30 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 16th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 73rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 330 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Park Street Southwest
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Farley, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue West
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
1st Avenue West
2
Turn left onto Park Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Park Street Southwest
3
Continue on Farley Road
10 mi
·
18 min
·
Farley Road
4
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
5
Merge slight left
39 mi
·
44 min
6
Turn left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
7
Turn right
15 mi
·
19 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
9
Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
10
Continue on 73rd Street
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
11
Continue on Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Lincoln Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
13
Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
14
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
17
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
19
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
20
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 93.4 miles from Farley, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.4 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 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 Farley, 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 Farley, IA
This is one driving day of about 186.8 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Farley, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.4 mi from Farley, IA · 1h 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.4 miles from Farley, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around West Des Moines, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.37 one way
$56.75 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $31.28 | $62.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $35.26 | $70.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $41.50 | $83.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56 | 0 | $19.61 | $8.97 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.35 | $7.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.7 | 0 | $26.15 | $11.96 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Monday
Local time
2:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
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
3h 5m 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 Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 186.8 miles and takes about 3h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Park Street Southwest, Farley Road, US 30 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.4 miles from Farley, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.37 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 3h 5m 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 Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Farley, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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