Origin
Ogden, IA
Night in Ogden on Friday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ogden, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ogden, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ogden, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 45.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 1 minute via Northwest Granger Drive and I 80, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. The drive is characterized by numerous turns, suggesting a route that navigates local roads before merging onto the interstate. With only 14% of the journey on the highway, expect a more engaged driving experience than a pure interstate trek. This route is ideal for a quick transition between areas without a significant time commitment.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 45.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This drive offers a turn-heavy local experience for a significant portion of its 45.1 miles. With only 14% of the route on the highway, you'll spend most of your time navigating county roads and smaller thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 15.6 miles on Northwest Granger Drive, indicating a good segment of consistent travel before encountering more intersections. The profile suggests a route that requires your attention, with frequent changes in direction rather than long, monotonous stretches of highway. Be prepared for a more interactive drive that winds through the local landscape.
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.
Northwest Granger Drive is the longest continuous segment at about 15.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 36 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.9 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
7
36 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Coun...
6
39.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
40.3 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
Ramp 72 I
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
8
43.5 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ogden, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
Council Bluffs
36 mi in
|
~47m
Des Moines
40.3 mi in
|
~53m
|
via Ramp 72 I
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Granger Drive | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| H Avenue | 11.6 mi | 15m |
| I 80 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| N Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 8th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Northwest Granger Drive
— 15.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ogden, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on CR E41
87 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 1st Street
3
Continue on US 169
12 mi
·
15 min
·
H Avenue
4
Continue on US 169
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
6
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
7
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
8
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
9
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
10
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ramp 72 I
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vine Street
19
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.6 mi from Ogden, IA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Ogden, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.05 one way
$14.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.74 | $15.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.68 | $17.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Night in West Des Moines on Friday
Local time
11:17 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
1h 1m 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 Ogden, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 45.1 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northwest Granger Drive, H Avenue, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.6 miles from Ogden, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.05 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 45.1 miles you will encounter 10 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: at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 36 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.9 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Ogden, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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 Ogden, IA
More trips to West Des Moines, IA
Explore more options from Ogden, IA or browse trips ending in West Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.