Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Night in West Des Moines on Friday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
44.5 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Ogden, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Ogden, IA covers 44.5 miles and takes about 1h 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 $6.96 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 44.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 1h drive with frequent turns across 44.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Ogden, IA is easy. At 1h 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 Ogden, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 8th Street | — | — |
| 73rd Street | — | — |
| I-235 west | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| I 35 North | — | — |
| I-35 north | — | — |
| IA 141 West | — | — |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Ogden, IA.
Start on Vine Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Continue on 73rd Street
Take the ramp left toward I-235 west
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North, I 80 East: Minneapolis, Chicago
Merge slight left onto I-35 north, I-80 east: Chicago, Minneapolis
Take the exit slight right toward IA 141 West: Grimes
Merge slight left onto Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Continue on Northeast Grimes Boulevard
Continue on Northwest 114th Street
Continue on Northwest Granger Drive
Take the exit straight toward US 169: Ogden, Adel
Turn right onto N Avenue
Continue on H Avenue
Turn slight left onto South 1st Street
Turn right onto East Walnut Street
Arrive at your destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.3 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ogden, 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.
Regular Gas
$6.96 one way
$13.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.64 | $15.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.56 | $17.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.83 | $19.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.67 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.89 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in West Des Moines on Friday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Ogden on Friday
Local time
11:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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