Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Albia, IA
Data updated 4 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
69.1 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 25m
★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m
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
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Albia, IA covers 69.1 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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 55.2 miles on IA 5. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.80 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
34.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 32m highway drive covering 69.1 miles, with most of the trip on IA 5 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.2 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 13 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 55.2 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 32m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 69 miles (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
4
69 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Turn left onto CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Navigation decision point
5
69.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
South 2nd Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
69.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 5 | 55.2 mi | 1h 12m |
| 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 |
| Vine Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Benton Avenue East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 55.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Albia, 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
25 mi
·
37 min
·
IA 5
10
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft
·
9 sec
·
Benton Avenue East
11
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 2nd Street
12
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
13
Arrive at 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 34.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 69.1 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.5 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albia, 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 69.1 miles and 1h 32m.
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 55.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.5 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 69.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Albia, IA
The final approach into Albia, 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 Albia, 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
$10.80 one way
$21.61 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.86 | $23.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.30 | $26.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.26 | $30.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.26 | $3.32 |
| Efficient EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.05 | $2.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.67 | $4.42 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Albia, IA
Morning in Albia on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
33 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 32m 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 Albia, IA covers 69.1 miles and takes about 1h 32m 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 34.5 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 $10.80 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 32m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 69 miles (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Albia, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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