Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Evening in West Des Moines on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Earlham, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
32m
Distance
25.5 mi
41 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 34m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
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
Earlham, IA
Clément Proust
Trip Overview
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Earlham, IA covers 25.5 miles and takes about 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 8th Street, 73rd Street, I-235 west for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.99 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
12.7 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 32m drive with frequent turns across 25.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
8th 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 Earlham, IA is easy. At 32m 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 Earlham, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Street | — | — |
| 73rd Street | — | — |
| I-235 west | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| CR P57 | — | — |
| I Avenue | — | — |
| County Road P57 | — | — |
| North Chestnut Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
8th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Earlham, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
469 ft
·
15 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 left toward I-235 west
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I-235 west
5
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
6
Merge slight right
18 mi
·
19 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward CR P57: Earlham
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
CR P57: Earlham
8
Turn left onto I Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I Avenue
9
Continue on County Road P57
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
County Road P57
10
Continue on North Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chestnut Avenue
11
Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street
387 ft
·
22 sec
·
Northwest 2nd Street
12
Turn left onto Northwest Locust Avenue
240 ft
·
11 sec
·
Northwest Locust Avenue
13
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 12.7 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 16m 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 25.5 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 12.7 miles or 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Earlham, 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 25.5 miles and 32m.
At 25.5 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 12.7 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 16m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 25.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 12.7 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Earlham, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Earlham, 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
$3.99 one way
$7.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.38 | $8.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.91 | $9.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.63 | $11.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.6 | 0 | $2.68 | $1.22 |
| Efficient EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.57 | $1.63 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Earlham, IA
Evening in Earlham on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
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 Earlham, IA covers 25.5 miles and takes about 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 8th Street, 73rd Street, I-235 west. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 12.7 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 $3.99 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 Earlham, IA is easy. At 32m 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 Earlham, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from West Des Moines, IA to Earlham, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Earlham, IA
Explore more options from West Des Moines, IA or browse trips ending in Earlham, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for West Des Moines, IA or Earlham, IA on MapSof.net.