Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Osceola, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
50m
Distance
41 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
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
Osceola, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Osceola, IA covers 41 miles and takes about 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Grand Avenue, DMACC West Campus, CR R35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.41 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
20.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 50m drive with frequent turns across 41 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Grand 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Osceola, IA is easy. At 50m 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 Osceola, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| DMACC West Campus | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CR R35 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road R35 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Grand Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Osceola, 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 left toward DMACC West Campus
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
DMACC West Campus
4
Merge slight left
32 mi
·
34 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward CR R35
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
CR R35
6
Turn left onto County Road R35
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road R35
7
Turn right onto North Main Street
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
8
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 20.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 25m 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 41 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.5 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Osceola, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving West Des Moines, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from West Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 41 miles and 50m.
At 41 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.5 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Osceola, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Osceola, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.41 one way
$12.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.04 | $14.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.89 | $15.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.05 | $18.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.31 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.59 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
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.
Destination
Osceola, IA
Afternoon in Osceola on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Norwalk, IA
21 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
21 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
50m 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 Osceola, IA covers 41 miles and takes about 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Grand Avenue, DMACC West Campus, CR R35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20.5 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 $6.41 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 Osceola, IA is easy. At 50m 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 Osceola, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Osceola, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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