Origin
Newton, IA
Evening in Newton on Sunday
Local time
5:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
44m
Distance
41.2 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 52m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newton, IA
Engin Akyurt
West Des Moines, IA
Daniel Dorfer
Trip Overview
The drive from Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 41.2 miles and takes about 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street South, South 8th Avenue West, West 12th Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.26 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
20.6 miles from Newton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 44m drive with frequent turns across 41.2 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.
1st Street South 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 Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 44m 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 Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 8th Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 12th Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 12th Avenue West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 235 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| John MacVicar Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 28 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 63rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
1st Street South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue East
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue East
2
Turn left onto 1st Street South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 8th Avenue West
4
Continue on West 12th Street South
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
West 12th Street South
5
Keep slight right to continue on South 12th Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 12th Avenue West
6
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
7
Take the ramp slight right
26 mi
·
29 min
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 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
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 20.6 miles from Newton, IA, or about 22m into the drive.
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 41.2 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.6 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 37m
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 Newton, 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 Newton, IA
This is one driving day of about 41.2 miles and 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Newton, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.6 mi from Newton, IA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from Newton, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.26 one way
$12.52 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $6.90 | $13.80 |
| premium | $4.80 | $7.78 | $15.56 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.15 | $18.31 |
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: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.33 | $1.98 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.5 | 0 | $5.77 | $2.64 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Evening in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
5:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
44m 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 Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 41.2 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street South, South 8th Avenue West, West 12th Street South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.6 miles from Newton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.26 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 Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 44m 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 Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Newton, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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