Traveling from Audubon to Des Moines covers 84.2 miles across the heart of the Iowa Midwest. You can expect the journey to take approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes, making this a straightforward day trip that does not require an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of roughly $13, it is an affordable transit between the two locations. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should plan for a slower, more deliberate pace. This trip is ideal for those who prefer navigating local corridors over the monotony of high-speed transit. Whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a quick getaway, this drive offers a simple, direct connection.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Audubon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 6
62 mi
1h 7m
Highway 71
14.3 mi
19m
John MacVicar Freeway
8.9 mi
11m
Lincoln Street
1 mi
1m
South Market Street
0.6 mi
1m
650th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
East University Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 62 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Audubon, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on US 71
0.6 mi·1 min·South Market Street
2
Continue on US 71
12 mi·16 min·Highway 71
3
Continue on US 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street
4
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi·3 min·Highway 71
5
Continue on US 71
0.6 mi·55 sec·650th Street
6
Turn left onto US 6
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 6
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235
8.9 mi·11 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123AToward I 235 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 8BToward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania AvenueUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.4 mi·47 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
10
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft·8 sec·East University Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Because you will be navigating local roads, keep a close eye on your GPS as you maneuver through the turns on Lincoln Street and 650th Street. Plan to fuel up before you leave Audubon, as the local nature of the roads means you won't have the convenience of frequent highway service stations along the way. Given the 1 hour and 24 minute duration, you can comfortably complete the trip without needing dedicated rest stops. Use this time to enjoy the local Iowa scenery, but prioritize staying focused on the frequent transitions required by this specific route.
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 44.2 miles from Audubon, IA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 53m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Audubon, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Audubon, IA
This is one driving day of about 88.3 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Audubon, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 6 for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
4 of 4
4 decision points cluster between mile 16.5 and 87.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
16.5 mi into trip|~23m in|US 6
Turn left onto US 6
Navigation decision point
8
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue
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 8B
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylva...
4
87.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.80 one way
$27.61 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.16
$30.31
premium
$4.89
$16.99
$33.99
diesel
$5.61
$19.50
$38.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.73
$3.53
EV Truck/SUV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Audubon, IA
Late night
in Audubon on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Late night
in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
2:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Stuart, IA
44 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 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 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that lacks the predictable rhythm of an interstate. You will primarily navigate via Highway 71, Lincoln Street, and 650th Street, with a highway share of 0%. Because there are no long stretches of highway, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns and transitions throughout the 84.2-mile journey. There is no significant uninterrupted stretch on Highway 71, so stay alert as you change roads. Behind the wheel, this means you will need to remain engaged with the navigation rather than settling into a cruise-control mindset.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on US 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and Highway 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 16.5 miles in near US 6.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Audubon, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 43m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.5 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 78.6 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Des Moines, capital of Iowa, is in the western region of the American Midwest. Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the annual site of the Iowa State Fair and numerous cultural festivals during warm weather months. History enthusiasts will find 110 historic sites in and around the city as part of the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area. The city appeals to travelers with an interest in the arts who marvel at the architecture of the State Capitol with its five domes, including the large main dome with its gleaming 23-karat gold surface. The city has a good art museum, a symphony that performs in the downtown Civic Center (along with opera, ballet, and other performing arts), and a big annual arts festival that draws visitors from across Iowa and beyond.
The longest stretch is about 62 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.5 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 78.6 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Des Moines, IA before heading back.
