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Trip from Dallas Center, 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

37m

Distance

25.5 mi

41 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 34m ★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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human settlement in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

Dallas Center, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Des Moines, IA, IA

Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to get from Dallas Center to Des Moines, this 26.2-mile trek is a straightforward journey through the heart of the Iowa Midwest. You can expect to spend about 32 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of approximately $4, it is an incredibly cost-effective route for a quick commute or a change of scenery. Since there are no required stops along the way, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule allows. Because both towns are located within the same state and region, you will experience a consistent rural-to-urban transition throughout the drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 6 9.4 mi 14m
John MacVicar Freeway 8.4 mi 10m
R Avenue 4.1 mi 5m
I 80 0.9 mi 1m
13th Street 0.7 mi 1m
Ramp 72 I 0.4 mi <1m
Pennsylvania Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
I 35 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 6 — 9.4 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dallas Center, IA and Des Moines, IA.

1

Start on Walnut Street

32 ft · 10 sec · Walnut Street
2

Turn sharp left onto CR R16

0.7 mi · 1 min · 13th Street
3

Continue on CR R16

4.1 mi · 5 min · R Avenue
4

At end of road, turn left onto US 6

9.4 mi · 14 min · US 6
Use the left lane.
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west Use the right lane.
6

Merge onto I 80; I 35

0.9 mi · 1 min · I 80; I 35
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

0.4 mi · 26 sec · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Ramp 72 I
Exit 72A Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto I 235

8.4 mi · 10 min · John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Exit 8B Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
12

Turn left onto East University Avenue

100 ft · 8 sec · East University Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

East University Avenue

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 24.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CR R16 / 13th Street

Turn sharp left onto CR R16 / 13th Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

8
14.3 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward I-35 south, I-80 west
6
15.5 mi into trip | ~23m in | I 35

Keep slight left at fork onto I 35

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
15.8 mi into trip | ~23m in | Ramp 72 I

Take the exit onto Ramp 72 I toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 72A Toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
8
24.7 mi into trip | ~35m 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...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.99 one way

$7.97 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.38 $8.75
premium $4.89 $4.91 $9.81
diesel $5.61 $5.63 $11.26

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.6 0 $2.68 $1.22
Efficient EV 6.4 0 $2.23 $1.02
EV Truck/SUV 10.2 0 $3.57 $1.63

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (67% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Dallas Center, IA

Late night in Dallas Center on Sunday

Local time

3:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

34°F

Mostly Clear

NW 16 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Des Moines, IA

Late night in Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

3:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

36°F

Mostly Clear

NW 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

37m 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?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than a monotonous interstate haul. You will navigate a series of surface roads, including 13th Street, R Avenue, and the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, which make up the entirety of your 0% highway-share journey. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on 13th Street is essentially negligible, you should stay alert for frequent turns and intersection changes. This route avoids high-speed freeways, opting instead for a more grounded, local pace that connects the quiet atmosphere of Dallas Center to the busier pulse of Des Moines. It is a technical drive that rewards drivers who prefer staying off the major interstates.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.4 mi on US 6.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and John MacVicar Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR R16 / 13th Street.

Driving Effort 9/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 25.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR R16 / 13th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,071 ft 863 ft

Total Climb

183 ft

Total Descent

382 ft

Highest Point

1,071 ft

Elevation Range

209 ft

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 37m. Total distance: 25.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 9.4 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Des Moines, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 (CR R16 / 13th Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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