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Trip from Des Moines, IA to Levey, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

18m

Distance

8.5 mi

14 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 17m ★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 22m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 19m
3 PM
0h 20m
5 PM
0h 21m
8 PM
0h 17m ★

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

Best Time
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Downtown Des Moines, IA, IA

Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Levey, IA, IA

Levey, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

Trip Overview

Des Moines, IA to Levey, IA is 8.5 miles and takes about 18 minutes via Evergreen Avenue and Southeast 6th Street, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically Iowa, making it a convenient local drive. Given its brief duration and minimal highway share, this route is ideal for a quick errand or connecting two nearby points without much fuss. You'll find it's a straightforward local road experience, perfect for when time is a factor and you just need to get from A to B efficiently.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Evergreen Avenue 2.3 mi 4m
Southeast 6th Street 1.8 mi 3m
East Watrous Avenue 1.2 mi 2m
East 6th Street 0.9 mi 1m
Indianola Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Southeast Brooks Drive 0.3 mi <1m
Southeast 45th Street 0.3 mi 1m
Southeast 34th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Evergreen Avenue — 2.3 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East University Avenue

481 ft · 39 sec · East University Avenue
2

Turn uturn onto East University Avenue

0.1 mi · 18 sec · East University Avenue
3

Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
4

Continue on East 6th Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · East 6th Street
5

Continue on Southeast 6th Street

1.8 mi · 3 min · Southeast 6th Street
6

Turn left onto Indianola Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · Indianola Avenue
7

Turn left onto Evergreen Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Evergreen Avenue
Use the left lane.
8

Continue on East Watrous Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Watrous Avenue
9

Turn straight onto Evergreen Avenue

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Evergreen Avenue
10

Continue on Evergreen Drive

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Evergreen Drive
11

Turn left onto Southeast 34th Street

0.2 mi · 36 sec · Southeast 34th Street
12

Continue on East Watrous Avenue

0.4 mi · 53 sec · East Watrous Avenue
13

Continue on Southeast Brooks Drive

0.3 mi · 48 sec · Southeast Brooks Drive
14

Continue on Evergreen Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Evergreen Avenue
15

Turn left onto Southeast 45th Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Southeast 45th Street
16

Continue on East Watrous Avenue

0.2 mi · 36 sec · East Watrous Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

East Watrous Avenue

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | East University Avenue

Turn uturn onto East University Avenue

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Pennsylvania Avenue

Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
3 mi into trip | ~6m in | Indianola Avenue

Turn left onto Indianola Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
3.8 mi into trip | ~7m in | Evergreen Avenue

Turn left onto Evergreen Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
6.4 mi into trip | ~12m in | Southeast 34th Street

Turn left onto Southeast 34th Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$1.26 one way

$2.51 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.14 $1.39 $2.77
premium $4.72 $1.58 $3.16
diesel $4.80 $1.60 $3.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$1

Estimated CO2 emission: 3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.6 0 $0.89 $0.41
Efficient EV 2.1 0 $0.74 $0.34
EV Truck/SUV 3.4 0 $1.19 $0.54

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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 Jul 3, 2026

Origin

Des Moines, IA

Morning in Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

10:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 6 mph 31% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 2 at 11:29PM CDT until July 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 2 at 11:16PM CDT until July 3 at 5:15AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

Destination

Levey, IA

Morning in Levey on Sunday

Local time

10:07 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

ESE 7 mph 27% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 2 at 11:29PM CDT until July 3 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Flash Flood Warning

Flash Flood Warning issued July 2 at 11:16PM CDT until July 3 at 5:15AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

18m 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 route is characterized by frequent turns, making it a very local and engaging drive. With a 0% highway share, you'll be navigating primarily surface streets like Evergreen Avenue, Southeast 6th Street, and East Watrous Avenue for the entire 8.5 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 2.3 miles on Evergreen Avenue. Expect a driving experience that requires attention to traffic signals and changing road conditions, rather than long, open stretches of highway.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.3 mi on Evergreen Avenue.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 18m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (Indianola Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

928 ft 778 ft

Total Climb

150 ft

Total Descent

244 ft

Highest Point

928 ft

~3 mi in

Elevation Range

150 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Des Moines, IA

Full guide →

Founded 1843

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.

Top landmarks

  • • Iowa State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Iowa
  • • St. Ambrose Cathedral — church in Iowa, United States
  • • Des Moines Art Center — art museum in Des Moines, Iowa

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 18m. Total distance: 8.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

18m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 2.3 miles on Evergreen Avenue. 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 0.1 miles (East University Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (Pennsylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles (Indianola Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Levey, 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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