Origin
Knoxville, IA
Afternoon in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
4:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, IA to Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
50m
Distance
37.3 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward connection in the Midwest, the 37.3-mile trip from Knoxville to Des Moines is an ideal choice. You can easily complete this drive in about 50 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for the journey, keeping your transit costs minimal. Since both cities are located within Iowa, you will remain in the same region throughout the entire trek. Whether you are heading to the capital for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused route offers a reliable and efficient way to travel between the two points.
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
18.6 miles from Knoxville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a straightforward highway-focused experience as you navigate your way toward Des Moines. With roughly 69% of your travel occurring on major roads, you will spend the majority of your time on State Highway 5 and IA 5. The road maintains a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.2 miles along State Highway 5. As you approach your destination, the path transitions into Southeast 14th Street, guiding you steadily into the city. You will find this to be a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes directness over technical curves or complex navigation.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 19.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 5 and IA 5. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 34.4 miles (Southeast 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street
Turn right onto IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street
Navigation decision point
4
29.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 69 North: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69 North: Des Moines
6
34.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
Southeast 6th Street
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
5
36.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
East Locust Street
Turn right onto East Locust Street
Navigation decision point
5
36.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| IA 5 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Southeast 14th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Southeast 6th Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Southridge Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Indianola Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 19.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on IA 14
36 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lincoln Street
2
Turn right onto IA 92 Bus
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Pleasant Street
3
Continue on IA 92 Bus
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
McKimber Street
4
Continue on IA 92 Bus
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
McKimber Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto IA 5; IA 92
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
IA 5; IA 92
7
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
8
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
9
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 69 North: Des Moines
11
Turn straight onto US 69
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southridge Boulevard
12
Continue on US 69
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast 14th Street
13
Turn slight left onto Indianola Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Indianola Avenue
Use the none lane.
14
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 6th Street
Use the none lane.
15
Continue on East 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East 6th Street
Use the none lane.
16
Turn right onto East Locust Street
491 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Locust Street
17
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the none lane.
18
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Because this is a short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You will not need to worry about extensive rest stops since the total duration is under an hour. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $6, so filling up before you leave Knoxville ensures you won't have to hunt for a station along the way. Since you are utilizing State Highway 5 for the bulk of the journey, stay mindful of changing speed limits as you transition from rural stretches into the busier streets of Des Moines. Taking advantage of the route's brevity allows you to maximize your time once you arrive at your destination.
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 18.6 miles from Knoxville, IA, or about 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.2 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 37.3 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.6 miles or 22m 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Knoxville, IA
This is one driving day of about 37.3 miles and 50m.
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.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 5 for about 19.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.6 mi from Knoxville, IA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Knoxville, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.67 one way
$11.33 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.25 | $12.49 |
| premium | $4.80 | $7.04 | $14.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.29 | $16.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.26 | $1.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
4:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
8 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
50m 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 Knoxville, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 37.3 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 5, IA 5, Southeast 14th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.6 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 $5.67 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.3 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 34.4 miles (Southeast 6th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Knoxville, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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