Origin
Vinton, IA
Evening in Vinton on Thursday
Local time
5:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 1m
Distance
117.6 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 53m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vinton, IA
Tom Fisk
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on C Avenue, Highway 150, 70th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.39 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
58.8 miles from Vinton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 117.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m 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 2h 1m drive with frequent turns across 117.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
C Avenue 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 Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 1m 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 Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| C Avenue | — | — |
| Highway 150 | — | — |
| 70th Street | — | — |
| Highway 199 | — | — |
| 1st Avenue | — | — |
| 1st Street | — | — |
| 21st Avenue | — | — |
| 73rd Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
C Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vinton, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
East 3rd Street
2
Turn left onto C Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
C Avenue
3
Continue on State Highway 150
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
State Highway 150
4
Continue straight
9.8 mi
·
14 min
5
Turn right onto 70th Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
70th Street
6
Continue on State Highway 199
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Highway 199
7
Continue on 1st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
1st Avenue
8
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
1st Street
9
Continue on 21st Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
21st Avenue
10
Turn right onto 73rd Street
11 mi
·
13 min
·
73rd Street
11
Continue on Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Lincoln Highway
12
Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
13
Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
14
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 235 West: Des Moines
17
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
18
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
19
Turn left onto 63rd Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
20
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
21
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 58.8 miles from Vinton, IA, or about 1h 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 26 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 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 39m
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 Vinton, 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 Vinton, IA
This is one driving day of about 117.6 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Vinton, 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 58.8 mi from Vinton, IA · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Vinton, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around West Des Moines, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.39 one way
$36.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.19 | $40.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.63 | $45.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.96 | $51.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.3 | 0 | $12.35 | $5.64 |
| Efficient EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.29 | $4.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47 | 0 | $16.46 | $7.53 |
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.
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Evening in West Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
5:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 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 Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 117.6 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are C Avenue, Highway 150, 70th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Vinton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.39 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 Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 2h 1m 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 Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Vinton, IA to West Des Moines, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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