Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
33m
Distance
22 mi
35 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Slater, IA
Arturo Añez.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Slater, IA covers 22 miles and takes about 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northwest 44th Street, Northwest 2nd Street, 2nd Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8 miles on Northwest 44th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.41 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest 44th Street | 8 mi | 11m |
| Northwest 2nd Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| 2nd Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Northwest Polk City Drive | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Northwest 35th Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Southwest Oralabor Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Southwest State Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Linn Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Slater, IA.
Start on East University Avenue
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Continue on IA 415
Continue on IA 415
Turn left onto IA 415
Continue on IA 415
Continue on IA 415
Continue on IA 415
Turn right onto Northwest 44th Street
Continue on 510th Avenue
Continue on South Linn Street
Arrive at destination
2 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 13 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto Northwest 44th Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.41 one way
$6.82 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.27 | $8.54 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $4.85 | $9.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.31 | $1.06 |
| Efficient EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.93 | $0.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Des Moines on Friday
Local time
4:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Slater on Friday
Local time
4:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Cloudy
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
22 mi in 33m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near 2nd Avenue.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Des Moines, IA to Slater, IA is easy. At 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13 miles (Northwest 44th Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
231 ft
Total Descent
91 ft
Highest Point
1,013 ft
~18.8 mi in
Elevation Range
206 ft
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 33m. Total distance: 22 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
33m 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.
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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