Origin
Baxter, IA
Late night in Baxter on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Baxter, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
39.4 mi
63 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Baxter, IA
Tara Winstead
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Baxter to West Des Moines, you are looking at a straightforward 39.4-mile trip that typically takes about 57 minutes to complete. Because this journey is well under an hour, it is perfectly suited for a single-day outing or a quick commute between these two Midwest locations. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel, making it a very economical excursion. The route relies heavily on major infrastructure, including US 65, the John MacVicar Freeway, and Highway F17 West. Since the entire drive stays within Iowa, you won't experience any significant regional shifts, allowing you to focus on a consistent, efficient transit between the two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 65 | 19.2 mi | 24m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 9.4 mi | 12m |
| Highway F17 West | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| County Highway F17 | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| 63rd Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Vine Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Buchanan Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 65
— 19.2 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baxter, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CR F62
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Buchanan Street
3
Continue on CR F62
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Highway F17 West
4
Continue on CR F17
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway F17
5
Turn right onto IA 117
343 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 117
6
Continue on US 65
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 65
7
Take the ramp onto US 65
15 mi
·
18 min
·
US 65
Toward US 65 south, IA 330 south: Des Moines
8
Take the exit onto US 65
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
10
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
·
12 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
13
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
14
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.7 miles from Baxter, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 37.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR F62 / Buchanan Street
At end of road, turn right onto CR F62 / Buchanan Street
Navigation decision point
6
8.5 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
US 65
Take the ramp onto US 65 toward US 65 south, IA 330 south: Des Moines
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 65 south, IA 330 south: Des Moines
7
23.1 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
27.6 mi into trip
|
~39m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
37.6 mi into trip
|
~53m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.16 one way
$12.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.76 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.58 | $15.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.70 | $17.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.14 | $1.89 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.8 | 0 | $5.52 | $2.52 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
West Des Moines, IA
Late night in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
WNW 10 to 18 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
60°F
Altoona, IA
20 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
10 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
57m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with roughly 73% of your time spent on higher-speed roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.2 miles along US 65. The transition between rural roads like Highway F17 West and the more robust John MacVicar Freeway defines the character of this trip. While it lacks the winding complexity of backroad travel, the route offers a reliable and fast experience. Expect a functional drive that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers or frequent turns.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on US 65.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 65 and John MacVicar Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CR F62 / Buchanan 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 39.4 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.4 miles (CR F62 / Buchanan Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (US 65): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Arriving in West Des Moines, IA
Full guide →West Des Moines is a small city in Central Iowa, the largest suburb of Des Moines.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 39.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on US 65. 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 0.4 miles (CR F62 / Buchanan Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (US 65): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 23.1 miles (US 65): 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 West Des Moines, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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