Origin
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Des Moines, IA to Urbandale, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
14m
Distance
8.8 mi
14 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 15m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 16m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 16m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 14m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit within the Midwest, the 8.8-mile trip from Des Moines to Urbandale is as efficient as it gets. Expect to spend only 14 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight planning. With a budget of just $1 for fuel, this commute is exceptionally economical for travelers moving between these two Iowa cities. Because the duration is so brief, you have total flexibility in your departure time. Whether you are running errands or heading to a meeting, this route offers a practical, no-fuss connection that gets you to your destination in under a quarter of an hour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| John MacVicar Freeway | 5.3 mi | 6m |
| 73rd Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 72nd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Roseland Drive | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| East University Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 6th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 70th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
John MacVicar Freeway
— 5.3 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines, IA and Urbandale, 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
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East 6th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Toward I-235 west
6
Merge onto I 235
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 3
Toward 73rd Street, 8th Street, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto 73rd Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
73rd Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on 72nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
72nd Street
10
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Roseland Drive
11
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft
·
10 sec
·
70th Street
12
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Maryland Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.3 — 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
5
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 west
Navigation decision point
Toward I-235 west
8
6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward 73rd Street, 8th Street, Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
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 3
Toward 73rd Street, 8th Street, Windsor Heights...
6
6.3 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
73rd Street
Turn left onto 73rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.38 one way
$2.75 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.51 | $3.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.69 | $3.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.94 | $3.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
| Efficient EV | 2.2 | 0 | $0.77 | $0.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.23 | $0.56 |
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.
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Late night in Urbandale on Tuesday
Local time
4:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14m 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 short journey offers a mixed driving experience, balancing high-speed transit with local navigation. You will spend about 60% of your time on the highway, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 5.3 miles on the John MacVicar Freeway. Once you exit the freeway, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto 73rd Street and 72nd Street to reach your final destination. This combination of major arteries and local streets keeps the drive moving steadily without feeling like a monotonous grind. You can expect a predictable pace that transitions smoothly from highway speeds to local traffic flow.
60% 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: 5.3 mi on John MacVicar Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East University Avenue.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 8.8 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Des Moines, IA to Urbandale, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Windsor Heights along the way.
Windsor Heights
6 mi in
|
~8m
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 14m. Total distance: 8.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (60%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.3 miles on John MacVicar Freeway. 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 0.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Urbandale, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Urbandale, IA
More trips to Urbandale, IA
Explore more options from Des Moines, IA or browse trips ending in Urbandale, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.