Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
10:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Leon, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
63.2 mi
102 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
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
Leon, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Leon, IA covers 63.2 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 69, Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.3 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 63.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 17m highway drive covering 63.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 69. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.3 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 69. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Leon, IA is easy. At 1h 17m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 51.6 miles: 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
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward DMACC West Campus
Navigation decision point
Toward DMACC West Campus
4
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward Webb
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Webb
4
51.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
CR J14 / 120th Street
Turn left onto CR J14 / 120th Street
Navigation decision point
4
53.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
US 69
Turn right onto US 69
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Des Moines, IA and Leon, IA, road signs point toward Dmacc West Campus and Webb.
Dmacc West Campus
5 mi in
|
~9m
Webb
51.6 mi in
|
~1h
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 46.3 mi | 49m |
| US 69 | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Grand Avenue | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| 120th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Vine Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Line Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Northwest Church Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 46.3 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Leon, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Vine Street
2
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Grand Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward DMACC West Campus
4
Merge onto I 35
46 mi
·
49 min
·
I 35
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward Webb
6
Turn left onto CR J14
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
120th Street
7
Continue on CR J14
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Line Street
8
Continue on 120th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
120th Street
9
Turn right onto US 69
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
US 69
10
Arrive at destination
US 69
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 31.6 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 31.6 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Leon, IA
The final approach into Leon, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.88 one way
$19.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.85 | $21.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.16 | $24.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.95 | $27.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19 | 0 | $6.64 | $3.03 |
| Efficient EV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.53 | $2.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.85 | $4.04 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Leon, IA
Morning in Leon on Saturday
Local time
10:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Osceola, IA
32 mi in
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
1 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
1h 17m 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 Leon, IA covers 63.2 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 69, Grand Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31.6 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 $9.88 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 Leon, IA is easy. At 1h 17m with 88% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Between West Des Moines, IA and Leon, IA, road signs point toward Dmacc West Campus and Webb.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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