Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Morning in West Des Moines on Thursday
Local time
11:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
65.6 mi
106 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 23m
★
6 AM
1h 30m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 43m
8 PM
1h 25m
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
Coo n Rapids, IA
Emın Alper
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, Northwest Granger Drive, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33.6 miles on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.26 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 65.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 29m drive with frequent turns across 65.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 33.6 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,173 ft
825 ft
Total Climb
452 ft
Total Descent
104 ft
Highest Point
1,173 ft
~65.6 mi in
Elevation Range
348 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 8th Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (Ramp 72 E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 west
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I-235 west
8
4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
Ramp 72 E
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 E toward I 35 North, I 80 East: Minneapolis, Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35 North, I 80 East: Minneapolis, Chic...
7
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80 toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Chicago, Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Chicago, Minneapo...
7
7.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 West: Grimes
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 127B
Toward IA 141 West: Grimes
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 Coo n Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Chicago and Minneapolis.
Chicago
4 mi in
|
~6m
|
via Ramp 72 E
Minneapolis
4.5 mi in
|
~7m
|
via I 80
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| George P. Soumas Memorial Highway | 33.6 mi | 46m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| I 80 | 3.4 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 2.3 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| 8th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Northeast Grimes Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
— 33.6 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Coo n Rapids, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
468 ft
·
14 sec
·
Vine Street
2
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
3
Continue on 73rd Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
73rd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I-235 west
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 235
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
6
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 E
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Ramp 72 E
Exit 123B
Toward I 35 North, I 80 East: Minneapolis, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto I 80
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Chicago, Minneapolis
Use the slight right lane.
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 127B
Toward IA 141 West: Grimes
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto IA 141
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
10
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
11
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
12
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
13
Continue on IA 141
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
14
Continue on IA 141
21 mi
·
28 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
15
Continue on IA 141
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Railway Street
16
Continue on IA 141
13 mi
·
18 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
17
Turn right onto South 5th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South 5th Avenue
18
Turn right onto Main Street
8 ft
·
0 sec
·
Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32.8 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 32.8 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Coo n Rapids, IA
The final approach into Coo n Rapids, 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
$10.26 one way
$20.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.26 | $22.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.62 | $25.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.48 | $28.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.89 | $3.15 |
| Efficient EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.18 | $4.20 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Coo n Rapids, IA
Morning in Coo n Rapids on Thursday
Local time
11:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Madrid, IA
33 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
22 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 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 Coo n Rapids, IA covers 65.6 miles and takes about 1h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, Northwest Granger Drive, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.8 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 $10.26 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (8th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (Ramp 72 E): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between West Des Moines, IA and Coo n Rapids, IA, road signs point toward Chicago and Minneapolis.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 825 ft to 1,173 ft elevation with about 452 ft of total climbing.
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