Origin
Chariton, IA
Night in Chariton on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chariton, IA to West 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 25m
Distance
58.4 mi
94 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 18m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chariton, IA
Ron Lach
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a straightforward trip through the heart of the Midwest, the 58.4-mile journey from Chariton to West Des Moines is a convenient option. Expect to spend about 1 hour and 25 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $9, the trip is as economical as it is efficient. You will traverse local roads and state highways, transitioning from the quieter landscapes of Chariton to the more bustling environment of West Des Moines. Because the total drive time is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations. This route offers a practical, no-fuss way to navigate between these two Iowa locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| County Road S45 | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 14 | 6.4 mi | 9m |
| IA 28 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| 260th Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
| County Highway S45 | 1.9 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 West 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
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 99
Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn right onto IA 28
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
IA 28
20
Turn left onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street
21
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.2 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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 52.7 — 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
8
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
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 99
Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.13 one way
$18.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.02 | $20.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.24 | $22.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.89 | $25.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.18 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Night in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Pleasant Hill, IA
29 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 25m 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?
This mixed drive balances local connectivity with faster highway travel, utilizing State Highway 5, County Road S45, and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Roughly 52 percent of your journey is spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm for most of the trip. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 19.2 miles on State Highway 5, allowing for a comfortable pace before the road conditions shift. Because the route relies on a combination of different road types, you will experience a variety of driving environments throughout the 58.4-mile span. It is a functional path that moves you steadily toward your destination without the monotony often found on longer, purely interstate-based routes.
52% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 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 25m drive. You will face about 12 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Chariton, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Martensdale along the way.
Martensdale
52.7 mi in
|
~1h 15m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 58.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). 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 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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