Trip from Knoxville, IA to Des Moines, IA

Drive Time

46m

Distance

39.4 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Knoxville, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 39.4 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Pleasant Street, McKimber Street, McKimber Drive for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.85 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

19.7 miles from Knoxville, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 46m drive with frequent turns across 39.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West Pleasant Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Pleasant Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
McKimber Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
McKimber Drive	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 5	Unavailable	Refreshing
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 69 North	Unavailable	Refreshing
Southridge Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
Southeast 14th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: West Pleasant Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on North Lincoln Street

2

Turn right onto West Pleasant Street

3

Continue on McKimber Street

4

Continue on McKimber Drive

5

Take the ramp straight

6

Merge slight left

7

Turn right

8

Continue on State Highway 5

9

Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

10

Take the exit slight right toward US 69 North: Des Moines

11

Turn straight onto Southridge Boulevard

12

Continue on Southeast 14th Street

13

Turn slight left onto Indianola Avenue

14

Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street

15

Continue on East 6th Street

16

Turn right onto East Locust Street

17

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

18

Turn left onto East University Avenue

19

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 19.7 miles from Knoxville, IA, or about 23m into the drive.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 39.4 miles or 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 19.7 miles or 23m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Knoxville, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Knoxville, IA

This is one driving day of about 39.4 miles and 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Knoxville, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

West Des Moines, IA

20 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into 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 Des Moines, IA.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.7 mi from Knoxville, IA

West Des Moines, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Des Moines, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Knoxville, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.77	$5.85	$11.70
midgrade	$4.25	$6.60	$13.19
premium	$4.65	$7.22	$14.44
diesel	$5.30	$8.23	$16.45

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Knoxville, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 39.4 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Pleasant Street, McKimber Street, McKimber Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 19.7 miles from Knoxville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.85 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.