Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Vinton, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
116.7 mi
188 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 19m
★
6 AM
2h 29m
8 AM
2h 49m
10 AM
2h 36m
12 PM
2h 34m
3 PM
2h 37m
5 PM
2h 48m
8 PM
2h 23m
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
Vinton, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Vinton, IA covers 116.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m 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 $18.24 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.
Midpoint
58.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 116.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 29m drive with frequent turns across 116.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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.
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 Vinton, IA is easy. At 2h 29m 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 Vinton, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 4th Street | — | — |
| Grand Avenue | — | — |
| 56th Street | — | — |
| I-235 east | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| I 35 South | — | — |
| I 80 East | — | — |
| US 6 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
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 Vinton, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Vine Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
4th Street
3
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
4
Turn left onto 56th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
56th Street
5
Take the ramp right toward I-235 east
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I-235 east
6
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
7
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
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80 East: Davenport
9
Merge slight left
3.4 mi
·
3 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
11
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
33 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Take the exit right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
14
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
42 min
·
Lincoln Highway
15
Continue on 73rd Street
12 mi
·
13 min
·
73rd Street
16
Turn left onto 21st Avenue
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
21st Avenue
17
Continue on 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street
18
Turn right onto 1st Avenue
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
1st Avenue
19
Continue on State Highway 199
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
State Highway 199
20
Continue on 70th Street
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
70th Street
21
Turn left onto 24th Avenue
10.0 mi
·
14 min
·
24th Avenue
22
Turn straight onto State Highway 150
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
State Highway 150
23
Continue on C Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
C Avenue
24
Turn right onto West 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
West 3rd Street
25
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 58.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 14m 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.3 miles or 1h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Vinton, 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 116.7 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from West Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.3 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Vinton, IA
The final approach into Vinton, 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 Vinton, 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
$18.24 one way
$36.49 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.03 | $40.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.46 | $44.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.77 | $51.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35 | 0 | $12.25 | $5.60 |
| Efficient EV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.21 | $4.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.34 | $7.47 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Vinton, IA
Afternoon in Vinton on Thursday
Local time
2:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
58 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
3 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
2h 29m 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 Vinton, IA covers 116.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m 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 58.3 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 $18.24 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 Vinton, IA is easy. At 2h 29m 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 Vinton, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Vinton, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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