West Des Moines to Centerville is 90.5 miles and takes about 2h 4m via IA 5, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest to Midwest journey stays within Iowa, offering a straightforward drive. You’ll spend most of your time on highways, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two Iowa locations without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.2 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
55.7 mi
1h 13m
South Clinton Street
20.6 mi
30m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Southwest 63rd Street
2.5 mi
4m
State Highway 28
2.2 mi
3m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
1m
East Washington Street
0.3 mi
1m
North 13th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 55.7 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Centerville, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Vine Street
2
Turn right onto IA 28
2.5 mi·4 min·Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street
3
Continue on IA 28
2.2 mi·3 min·State Highway 28
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
5
Merge onto IA 5
8.1 mi·9 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi·22 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
7
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
8
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
9
Turn right onto IA 5
26 mi·37 min·IA 5
10
Turn straight onto IA 5
21 mi·30 min·South Clinton Street
11
Turn right onto East Washington Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East Washington Street
12
Turn left onto North 13th Street
359 ft·15 sec·North 13th Street
13
Continue on North 13th Street
302 ft·13 sec·North 13th Street
14
Arrive at destination
North 13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 4 minutes, this trip is easily achievable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Since the longest stretch without a significant change in road is 55.7 miles, you can comfortably complete the drive without many mandatory stops. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Centerville, as the estimated fuel cost is around $14, and it's always wise to top off before heading into a new area. Plan to leave West Des Moines mid-morning to avoid rush hour and arrive in Centerville with plenty of daylight.
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 45.2 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.7 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.2 miles or 56m 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 Centerville, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 90.5 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from West Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 55.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 90.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 28 / Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street
Turn right onto IA 28 / Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.6 mi into trip|~9m in|IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
13.8 mi into trip|~18m in|IA 5
Take the exit onto IA 5 toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
4
90.1 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|East Washington Street
Turn right onto East Washington Street
Navigation decision point
5
90.4 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|North 13th Street
Turn left onto North 13th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.15 one way
$28.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.53
$31.07
premium
$4.89
$17.42
$34.83
diesel
$5.61
$19.98
$39.96
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.50
$4.34
Efficient EV
22.6
0
$7.92
$3.62
EV Truck/SUV
36.2
0
$12.67
$5.79
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
WNW 10 to 18 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Centerville, IA
Afternoon
in Centerville on Saturday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Knoxville, IA
45 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
20 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 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 64% of the route utilizing main roads like IA 5 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. You'll experience stretches of faster travel, including one continuous segment of 55.7 miles on IA 5. The drive offers a consistent pace, allowing you to maintain momentum for much of the journey. Expect a practical, efficient experience rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and South Clinton Street. 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 28 / Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Centerville, IA is easy. At 2h 4m with 64% 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 28 / Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles (IA 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 4m. Total distance: 90.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Centerville, IA covers 90.5 miles and takes about 2h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 5, South Clinton Street, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.2 miles from West Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.15 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 West Des Moines, IA to Centerville, IA is easy. At 2h 4m with 64% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 28 / Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 5.6 miles (IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.8 miles (IA 5): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Centerville, 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.
