Origin
Chariton, IA
Late night in Chariton on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chariton, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
54.6 mi
88 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chariton, IA
Ron Lach
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 54.6-mile drive from Chariton to Des Moines, Iowa, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 22 minutes, making it ideal for a single-day trip. You'll be spending roughly 47% of your time on highways, with the rest on local roads. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this is an economical option for exploring more of the Midwest. The route offers a mixed driving experience, perfect for a relaxed day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Consider this a convenient way to connect two points within Iowa.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| County Road S45 | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 14 | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| 260th Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| Southeast 14th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| County Highway S45 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Southeast 6th Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| 50th Place | 1.7 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 19.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chariton, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on this road
73 ft
·
7 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto South Grand Street
207 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Grand Street
3
Turn right onto US 34 Business
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Court Avenue
4
Turn left onto IA 14
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North 7th Street
5
Continue on IA 14
6.4 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 14
6
Turn left onto CR S45
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
260th Avenue
7
Continue on CR S45
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
50th Place
8
Continue on CR S45
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway S45
9
Turn right onto CR G76; CR S45
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
County Highway G76
10
Turn left onto CR S45
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
11
Continue on CR S45
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Northeast Main Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45
367 ft
·
9 sec
·
B Street Northwest
13
Turn right onto CR S45
461 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
14
Continue on CR S45
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road S45
15
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
this road
16
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
17
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 69 North: Des Moines
19
Turn straight onto US 69
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southridge Boulevard
20
Continue on US 69
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast 14th Street
21
Turn slight left onto Indianola Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Indianola Avenue
22
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 6th Street
23
Continue on East 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East 6th Street
24
Turn right onto East Locust Street
491 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Locust Street
25
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
26
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.3 miles from Chariton, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 53.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Grand Street
Turn right onto South Grand Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 34 Business / Court Avenue
Turn right onto US 34 Business / Court Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
16.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
CR S45 / B Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45 / B Street Northwest
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
16.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest
Turn right onto CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
East Locust Street
Turn right onto East Locust Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.54 one way
$17.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.37 | $18.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.51 | $21.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.05 | $24.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.73 | $2.62 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Pleasant Hill, IA
27 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
2 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 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Your drive will present a "Mixed drive" profile, meaning you won't be stuck on a single type of road for the entire trip. You'll encounter segments of both highway and county roads, offering a varied experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19.2 miles on State Highway 5. This blend of road types keeps things interesting, avoiding the monotony of a pure interstate cruise while still allowing for decent travel time. Expect the landscape to shift subtly as you transition between these different road types.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on State Highway 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Grand Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 22m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Grand Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 34 Business / Court Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →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.
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 1h 22m. Total distance: 54.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on State Highway 5. 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: near the start (South Grand Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 34 Business / Court Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at 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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