Origin
Gilbert, IA
Morning in Gilbert on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
51m
Distance
47.7 mi
77 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Photo: Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
The drive from Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 47.7 miles and takes about 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mathews Drive, 170th Street, West Riverside Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.25 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
23.9 miles from Gilbert, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 51m drive with frequent turns across 47.7 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.
Mathews Drive 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 Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 51m 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 Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mathews Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 170th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Riverside Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Dayton Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 13th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 235 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John MacVicar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Mathews Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilbert, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on 170th Street
95 ft
·
3 sec
·
170th Street
2
Continue on Mathews Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Mathews Drive
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Mathews Drive
102 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mathews Drive
4
Exit the roundabout onto Mathews Drive
525 ft
·
15 sec
·
Mathews Drive
5
Continue on 170th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
170th Street
6
Turn right
2.8 mi
·
4 min
7
Turn left onto West Riverside Road
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Riverside Road
8
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Dayton Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
North Dayton Avenue
9
Turn left onto East 13th Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
East 13th Street
10
Take the ramp right toward I 35 South: Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
28 min
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 235 West: Des Moines
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
13
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
14
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
15
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
16
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
17
Arrive at your destination
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 23.9 miles from Gilbert, IA, or about 25m 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 47.7 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 23.9 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
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 Gilbert, 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 Gilbert, IA
This is one driving day of about 47.7 miles and 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Gilbert, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.9 mi from Gilbert, IA · 25m 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 47.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.9 miles from Gilbert, 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
$7.25 one way
$14.49 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.99 | $15.97 |
| premium | $4.80 | $9.00 | $18.01 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.60 | $21.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.1 | 0 | $6.68 | $3.05 |
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
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
10:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Ankeny, IA
24 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
5 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
51m 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 Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 47.7 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mathews Drive, 170th Street, West Riverside Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.9 miles from Gilbert, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.25 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 Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 51m 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 Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Gilbert, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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