Origin
Ottumwa, IA
Afternoon in Ottumwa on Thursday
Local time
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
93.5 mi
151 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ottumwa, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 93.5 miles and takes about 1h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Wapello Street, Highway 63, IA 92 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.62 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.
Midpoint
46.8 miles from Ottumwa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 37m. Total distance: 93.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 37m drive with frequent turns across 93.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Wapello 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 Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Wapello Street | — | — |
| Highway 63 | — | — |
| IA 92 | — | — |
| A Avenue West | — | — |
| Highway 5 | — | — |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | — | — |
| IA 28 | — | — |
| Vine Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Wapello Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ottumwa, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on West Fourth Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
West Fourth Street
2
Turn right onto North Wapello Street
397 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Wapello Street
3
Continue on Old US Highway 63
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Old US Highway 63
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
5
Merge slight left
23 mi
·
26 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
7
Turn left onto A Avenue West
32 mi
·
36 min
·
A Avenue West
8
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
9
Continue on State Highway 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
10
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
12
Turn right
4.7 mi
·
7 min
13
Turn left onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street
14
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 46.8 miles from Ottumwa, IA, or about 48m 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 21 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.8 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 20m
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 Ottumwa, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ottumwa, IA
This is one driving day of about 93.5 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Ottumwa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.8 mi from Ottumwa, IA · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.8 miles from Ottumwa, 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
$14.62 one way
$29.24 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.05 | $32.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.99 | $35.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.64 | $41.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.82 | $4.49 |
| Efficient EV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.18 | $3.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.4 | 0 | $13.09 | $5.98 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (67% 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
1:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Knoxville, IA
47 mi in
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
18 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
1h 37m 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 Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 93.5 miles and takes about 1h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Wapello Street, Highway 63, IA 92. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.8 miles from Ottumwa, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.62 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 Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 37m 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 Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ottumwa, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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