Origin
Osceola, IA
Evening in Osceola on Friday
Local time
7:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Osceola, IA to 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
57m
Distance
48.5 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Osceola, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Osceola to Des Moines is 48.5 miles and takes about 57 minutes via I 35, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Iowa, moving you from the Midwest region further north within the same state. It's a quick hop that's ideal for a day trip or a convenient way to get from point A to point B without a major time commitment. The journey is primarily highway, making it a no-fuss option for getting to Des Moines efficiently.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 48.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This route is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of it taking place on major roadways like I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a continuous segment of 35.7 miles on I 35. The road is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll find a predictable driving experience for most of the 48.5 miles. Expect smooth sailing for the duration of this 57-minute trip, with minimal slowdowns as you approach Des Moines.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near CR R35 / County Road R35.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 57m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (CR R35 / County Road R35): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (Ramp 72 D): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR R35 / County Road R35
Turn left onto CR R35 / County Road R35
Navigation decision point
5
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
38.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
Ramp 72 D
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 D toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
5
39.7 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
47.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
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 8B
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylva...
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 35.7 mi | 38m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 8 mi | 10m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| County Road R35 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Ramp 72 D | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 35.7 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Osceola, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on US 69
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR R35
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road R35
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I-35 north: Des Moines
4
Merge onto I 35
36 mi
·
38 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 D
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Ramp 72 D
Exit 72A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 235
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 8B
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
9
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
10
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 24.3 mi from Osceola, IA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Osceola, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Des Moines, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.33 | $16.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.33 | $18.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.71 | $21.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Evening in Des Moines on Friday
Local time
7:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Norwalk, IA
24 mi in
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
21 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
57m 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 Osceola, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 48.5 miles and takes about 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, John MacVicar Freeway, South Main 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 24.3 miles from Osceola, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.58 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 57m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (CR R35 / County Road R35): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.9 miles (Ramp 72 D): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Osceola, IA to Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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