Origin
Monroe, IA
Afternoon in Monroe on Thursday
Local time
12:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
42m
Distance
35.8 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monroe, IA
César O'neill
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 35.8 miles and takes about 42m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Street, Highway 163, I-235 west for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.60 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 35.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m 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 42m drive with frequent turns across 35.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Washington Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 42m 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 Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | — | — |
| Highway 163 | — | — |
| I-235 west | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| IA 28 | — | — |
| 63rd Street | — | — |
| Vine Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Washington Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on North Monroe Street
72 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Monroe Street
2
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
54 sec
·
Washington Street
3
Turn right onto State Highway 163
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 163
4
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
5
Merge slight right
25 mi
·
32 min
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I-235 west
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I-235 west
7
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
8
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
9
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
10
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
11
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.60 one way
$11.19 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.15 | $12.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.89 | $13.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.90 | $15.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.13 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.01 | $2.29 |
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
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
12:04 PM
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
1 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
42m 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 Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 35.8 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Street, Highway 163, I-235 west. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.9 miles from Monroe, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.60 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 Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 42m 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 Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Monroe, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From West Des Moines, IA
More from Monroe, IA
More trips to West Des Moines, IA
Explore more options from Monroe, IA or browse trips ending in West Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Monroe, IA or West Des Moines, IA on MapSof.net.