The drive from Independence, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 140.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IA 330, Avenue of the Saints, US 20 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on IA 330.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.01 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
70.4 miles from Independence, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 59m. Total distance: 140.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Independence, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 140.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 330 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 140.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
5
46.5 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
7
124.5 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
129 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
139 mi into trip|~2h 55m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
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 Independence, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Grundy Center along the way.
Grundy Center
46.5 mi in|~54m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 330
35.9 mi
42m
Avenue of the Saints
23.5 mi
27m
US 20
21.2 mi
24m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
IA 330
— 35.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue Southeast
42 ft·9 sec·5th Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22
0.1 mi·18 sec·1st Street East
3
Turn left onto IA 150
1.3 mi·2 min·3rd Avenue Southeast
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
5
Merge onto US 20
21 mi·24 min·US 20
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
23 mi·27 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
8
Turn left onto IA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·N Avenue
9
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
10
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
11
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
12
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
13
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
14
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·North Main Street
16
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
17
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi·42 min·IA 330
18
Take the exit onto US 65
4.5 mi·5 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
20
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
23
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
24
Arrive at destination
Vine 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 70.4 miles from Independence, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.4 miles or 1h 28m 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 25m
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 Independence, 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 Independence, IA
This is one driving day of about 140.8 miles and 2h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Independence, 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 IA 330 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.4 mi from Independence, IA
· 1h 28m into the drive
The midpoint is around 70.4 miles from Independence, 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.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
West Des Moines, Iowa
Near the end, short detour
2.3 mi from route
~6 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 140.8
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.2
0
$14.78
$6.76
Efficient EV
35.2
0
$12.32
$5.63
EV Truck/SUV
56.3
0
$19.71
$9.01
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Independence, IA
Late night
in Independence on Saturday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 10 to 14 mph6% chanceLive 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
33 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
2h 59m 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 Independence, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 140.8 miles and takes about 2h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 330, Avenue of the Saints, US 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.4 miles from Independence, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.01 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 demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 140.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Independence, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Grundy Center 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.
