Trip from Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 27m

Distance

89.4 mi

144 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 21m ★

6 AM

1h 28m

8 AM

1h 41m

10 AM

1h 33m

12 PM

1h 31m

3 PM

1h 33m

5 PM

1h 41m

8 PM

1h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 89.4 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.98 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 89.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 27m drive with frequent turns across 89.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

East Rocksylvania Avenue 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 Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 27m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East Rocksylvania Avenue	—	—
Oak Street	—	—
US 20 West	—	—
I 35 South	—	—
I 235 West	—	—
John MacVicar Freeway	—	—
IA 28	—	—
63rd Street	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: East Rocksylvania Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and West Des Moines, IA.

1

Start on Commercial Street

331 ft · 11 sec · Commercial Street

2

Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Rocksylvania Avenue

3

Turn left onto Oak Street

5.0 mi · 8 min · Oak Street

4

Take the ramp right toward US 20 West

0.4 mi · 46 sec · US 20 West

5

Merge slight left

15 mi · 17 min

6

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Des Moines

0.3 mi · 55 sec · I 35 South: Des Moines

7

Merge slight left

55 mi · 59 min

8

Keep slight left to continue on I 235 West: Des Moines

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 235 West: Des Moines

9

Continue on John MacVicar Freeway

9.4 mi · 12 min · John MacVicar Freeway

10

Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights

0.3 mi · 35 sec · IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights

11

Turn left onto 63rd Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · 63rd Street

12

Turn right onto Vine Street

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Vine Street

13

Arrive at your destination

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 44.7 mi from Iowa Falls, IA · 43m into the drive

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

45 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

Story City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 44.7 miles from Iowa Falls, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.98 one way

$27.95 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$15.35	$30.69
premium	$4.89	$17.20	$34.41
diesel	$5.61	$19.74	$39.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$14

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	26.8	$9.39	$4.29
Efficient EV	22.4	$7.82	$3.58
EV Truck/SUV	35.8	$12.52	$5.72

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Iowa Falls, IA

Morning in Iowa Falls on Thursday

Local time

9:15 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Des Moines, IA

Morning in West Des Moines on Thursday

Local time

9:15 AM

CDT

Current temp

52°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

2 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

1h 27m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 89.4 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 44.7 miles from Iowa Falls, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.98 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 Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 27m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Iowa Falls, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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