Red Oak, IA to Des Moines, IA is 118.3 miles and takes about 2 hours 31 minutes via US 6, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest drive stays within Iowa, offering a straightforward journey between two points in the region. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a single-day excursion without feeling rushed. The route features a mix of road types, so expect some variation in your driving experience. Consider this a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.2 miles from Red Oak, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), and a big annual arts festival that draws visitors from across Iowa and beyond.
This route is a mixed drive, with about 60% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 6, North Broadway Street, and 550th Street, indicating a blend of main roads and local thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 62 miles on US 6, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. Expect the road conditions to evolve as you move from more rural sections to areas closer to 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 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 62 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IA 48 / North Broadway Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 31m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 48 / North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 6; US 71 / 650th Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 48 / North Broadway Street
Turn right onto IA 48 / North Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
40.2 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|US 6; US 71 / 650th Street
Turn left onto US 6; US 71 / 650th Street
Navigation decision point
4
46.6 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
8
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
117.5 mi into trip|~2h 29m 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
US 6
62 mi
1h 7m
North Broadway Street
14 mi
20m
550th Street
10 mi
14m
White Pole Road
9 mi
13m
John MacVicar Freeway
8.9 mi
11m
650th Street
6.4 mi
8m
East 7th Street
3.5 mi
6m
Adair Street
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 62 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on East Reed Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Reed Street
2
Turn right onto IA 48
14 mi·20 min·North Broadway Street
3
Continue on IA 48
0.9 mi·1 min·M Avenue
4
Continue on IA 48
4.8 mi·7 min·550th Street
5
Continue on IA 48
1.0 mi·1 min·Adair Street
6
Continue on IA 48
5.3 mi·7 min·550th Street
7
Turn right onto US 6
8.9 mi·13 min·White Pole Road
8
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest 7th Street
9
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·1 min·West 7th Street
10
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi·22 sec·White Pole Road
11
Continue on US 6; IA 83
3.5 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.4 mi·8 min·650th Street
13
Take the exit onto US 6
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 6
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235
8.9 mi·11 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123AToward I 235 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 8BToward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania AvenueUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi·47 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
17
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
18
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 31 minute duration, leaving Red Oak, IA in the morning will comfortably get you to Des Moines, IA before midday. With only one suggested stop and a fuel cost around $18, you won't need extensive planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 62-mile stretch on US 6, as services might be less frequent. This is a flexible drive, so you can depart whenever it suits your schedule. Pack snacks, as the mixed drive profile means you might encounter fewer immediate rest stops than on a pure interstate route.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.2 miles from Red Oak, IA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 26 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 5m
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 Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA
This is one driving day of about 118.3 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Red Oak, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 6 for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.2 mi from Red Oak, IA
· 1h 24m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
Efficient EV
29.6
0
$10.35
$4.73
EV Truck/SUV
47.3
0
$16.56
$7.57
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Red Oak, IA
Morning
in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
10:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Sunny
NW 10 to 21 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Morning
in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
10:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
WNW 10 to 18 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
3 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
2h 31m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Des Moines, IA covers 118.3 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 6, North Broadway Street, 550th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.2 miles from Red Oak, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.49 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 31m with 60% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 48 / North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 6; US 71 / 650th Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.6 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Red Oak, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
