Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Late night in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Indiana, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 7m
8 AM
1h 18m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 17m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Indiana, IA covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IA 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, Southwest 63rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 36 miles on IA 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.10 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 6m highway drive covering 51.8 miles, with most of the trip on IA 5 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 36 miles on IA 5.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 36 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. 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.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Indiana, IA is easy. At 1h 6m with 74% 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
3
43.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
IA 5
Take the exit onto IA 5
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
49.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
|
CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 5 | 36 mi | 44m |
| 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 |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Vine Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 36 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Indiana, 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
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
IA 5
10
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
County Highway G76
11
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
12
Arrive at destination
CR G76
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 25.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36 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 51.8 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.9 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, 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 51.8 miles and 1h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 36 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.9 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 51.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Indiana, IA
The final approach into Indiana, 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 Indiana, 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
$8.10 one way
$16.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.89 | $17.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.97 | $19.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Indiana, IA
Late night in Indiana on Wednesday
Local time
5:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
28 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
1h 6m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Indiana, IA covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 5, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, Southwest 63rd Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.9 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 $8.10 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 Indiana, IA is easy. At 1h 6m with 74% 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 Indiana, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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