Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Newton, IA

Drive Time

52m

Distance

40.6 mi

65 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min

4 AM

0h 48m ★

6 AM

0h 52m

8 AM

1h 1m

10 AM

0h 55m

12 PM

0h 54m

3 PM

0h 56m

5 PM

1h 0m

8 PM

0h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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West Des Moines, IA

Daniel Dorfer

Newton, IA

Engin Akyurt

Trip Overview

The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Newton, IA covers 40.6 miles and takes about 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 4th Street, Grand Avenue, 56th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.17 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

20.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 52m drive with frequent turns across 40.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

4th Street 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Newton, IA is easy. At 52m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Newton, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
4th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Grand Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
56th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
I-235 east	Unavailable	Refreshing
John MacVicar Freeway	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 35 South	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 80 East	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 6	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: 4th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Newton, IA.

Start on Vine Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Vine Street

Turn left onto 4th Street

0.4 mi · 56 sec · 4th Street

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grand Avenue

Turn left onto 56th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 56th Street

Take the ramp right toward I-235 east

0.3 mi · 40 sec · I-235 east

Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway

8.8 mi · 11 min · John MacVicar Freeway

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

0.3 mi · 36 sec · I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

0.3 mi · 40 sec · I 80 East: Davenport

Merge slight left

26 mi · 28 min

Take the exit slight right toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe

0.3 mi · 36 sec · US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe

Continue on State Highway 14

0.4 mi · 40 sec · State Highway 14

Turn slight right

177 ft · 7 sec

Turn straight onto South 12th Avenue West

0.5 mi · 51 sec · South 12th Avenue West

Continue on West 12th Street South

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West 12th Street South

Turn straight onto South 8th Avenue West

0.7 mi · 1 min · South 8th Avenue West

Turn left onto 1st Street South

0.5 mi · 1 min · 1st Street South

Turn right onto 1st Avenue East

0.3 mi · 1 min · 1st Avenue East

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 20.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 26m 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 40.6 miles or 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 20.3 miles or 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newton, 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 40.6 miles and 52m.

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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20.3 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 26m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Des Moines, IA

20 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

Indiana, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Des Moines, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Newton, IA

The final approach into Newton, 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 Newton, 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

$6.17 one way

$12.33 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$6.80	$13.60
premium	$4.80	$7.66	$15.33
diesel	$5.64	$9.02	$18.04

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12.2	$4.26	$1.95
Efficient EV	10.2	$3.55	$1.62
EV Truck/SUV	16.2	$5.68	$2.60

Gas CO2

14 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (64% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

West Des Moines, IA

Evening in West Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

5:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Newton, IA

Evening in Newton on Sunday

Local time

5:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

52m 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 Newton, IA covers 40.6 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 4th Street, Grand Avenue, 56th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 20.3 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 $6.17 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 Newton, IA is easy. At 52m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Newton, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from West Des Moines, IA to Newton, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.