The drive from Riverside, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 131.1 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, Avenue of the Saints, John MacVicar Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100.6 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.50 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
65.5 miles from Riverside, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 14m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 131.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 29m highway drive covering 131.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. The longest continuous stretch is about 100.6 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 100.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 22 / West 1st Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 131.1 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: near the start (IA 22 / West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 18.7 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 22 / West 1st Street
Turn left onto IA 22 / West 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
17.5 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
5
18.7 mi into trip|~24m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
119.3 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
129.3 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
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.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
100.6 mi
1h 48m
Avenue of the Saints
15.1 mi
17m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
State Highway 22
1 mi
1m
East Hickory Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West 1st Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 100.6 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on North Washburn Street
107 ft·9 sec·North Washburn Street
2
Turn left onto IA 22
0.3 mi·26 sec·West 1st Street
3
Continue on IA 22
0.5 mi·43 sec·East Hickory Street
4
Continue on IA 22
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 22
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
6
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
15 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 80
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.1 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
9
Merge onto I 80
101 mi·1 hr 48 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 137AToward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the slight left lane.
11
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
14
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
15
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
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 65.5 miles from Riverside, IA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.6 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.5 miles or 1h 14m 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 59m
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 Riverside, 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 Riverside, IA
This is one driving day of about 131.1 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Riverside, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 100.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.5 mi from Riverside, IA
· 1h 14m into the drive
The midpoint is around 65.5 miles from Riverside, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.6 miles.
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around West Des Moines, IA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Landmark Grill & Grind - Restaurant
4.3
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Williamsburg, Iowa
Early in the drive, right off the route
0.2 mi from route
~1 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 37.4
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.3
0
$13.77
$6.29
Efficient EV
32.8
0
$11.47
$5.24
EV Truck/SUV
52.4
0
$18.35
$8.39
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Riverside, IA
Morning
in Riverside on Saturday
Local time
10:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Morning
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
10:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Clear
NW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
66 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
38 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 29m 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 Riverside, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 131.1 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Avenue of the Saints, John MacVicar Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 65.5 miles from Riverside, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.50 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 131.1 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: near the start (IA 22 / West 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 18.7 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Riverside, IA to West 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.
