Origin
Norwalk, IA
Afternoon in Norwalk on Sunday
Local time
4:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwalk, IA to Des Moines, IA
Drive Time
22m
Distance
12.1 mi
19 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
★
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 to travel from Norwalk to Des Moines, you are in for a quick, 12.1-mile transit through the heart of the Midwest. This short journey takes approximately 22 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via Southwest 9th Street, County Road G14, and County Road R63. With a fuel budget of just $2, the trip is incredibly economical for any budget-conscious traveler. Since this route is entirely local, you can easily manage the commute without needing to schedule any stops along the way.
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
6 miles from Norwalk, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 10m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route avoids highways entirely, meaning you will navigate surface roads for the duration of the 12.1-mile trip. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 6 miles spent on Southwest 9th Street. Because the route relies on local infrastructure, the road personality is defined by frequent turns rather than high-speed cruising. It is a straightforward, functional drive that connects these two Iowa communities through a series of local connectors.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southwest 9th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR G14 / North Avenue.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR G14 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (CR R63 / County Road R63): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (Southwest 9th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR G14 / North Avenue
Turn left onto CR G14 / North Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
2.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CR R63 / County Road R63
At end of road, turn left onto CR R63 / County Road R63
Navigation decision point
3
9.5 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Southwest 9th Street
Turn straight onto Southwest 9th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
10.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
Locust Street
Turn right onto Locust Street
Navigation decision point
6
11.4 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Pennsylvania Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest 9th Street | 6 mi | 10m |
| County Road G14 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| County Road R63 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Locust Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 8th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Southwest 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southwest 9th Street
— 6 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
82 ft
·
8 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR G14
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Avenue
3
Continue on County Road G14
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road G14
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR R63
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road R63
5
Continue on CR R63
5.9 mi
·
10 min
·
Southwest 9th Street
Use the none lane.
6
Turn straight onto Southwest 9th Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Southwest 9th Street
Use the none lane.
7
Continue on Southwest 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Southwest 8th Street
8
Continue on 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
8th Street
9
Turn right onto Locust Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Street
10
At end of road, turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the none lane.
11
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 22-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to worry about long-distance pacing or planning for fatigue, as the route is manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should stay alert at intersections rather than relying on cruise control. Budgeting roughly $2 for gas should be more than sufficient for the entire trip. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival in Des Moines exactly when you need to be there.
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 6 miles from Norwalk, IA, or about 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6 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 12.1 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6 miles or 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 18m
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 Norwalk, 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 Norwalk, IA
This is one driving day of about 12.1 miles and 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Norwalk, 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 Southwest 9th Street for about 6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6 mi from Norwalk, IA · 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 12.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6 miles from Norwalk, 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
$1.84 one way
$3.68 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.03 | $4.05 |
| premium | $4.80 | $2.28 | $4.57 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.69 | $5.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.6 | 0 | $1.27 | $0.58 |
| Efficient EV | 3 | 0 | $1.06 | $0.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
4:13 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
6 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
22m 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 Norwalk, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 12.1 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southwest 9th Street, County Road G14, County Road R63. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 6 miles from Norwalk, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.84 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 is a straightforward 22m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR G14 / North Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (CR R63 / County Road R63): Navigation decision point; at 9.5 miles (Southwest 9th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Norwalk, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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