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Trip from Eddyville, IA to West Des Moines, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 32m

Distance

75.8 mi

122 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 26m ★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 29m

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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Downtown Eddyville, IA, IA

Eddyville, IA

Tom Fisk

city in Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties, Iowa, United States

West Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Eddyville, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 75.8 miles and takes about 1h 32m via A Avenue West and State Highway 5, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a mixed drive, suggesting you'll encounter varied road types rather than a single, monotonous stretch. With a short duration, this route is ideal for a quick, single-day excursion. It's a straightforward journey perfect for when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.9 miles from Eddyville, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
A Avenue West 32.4 mi 36m
State Highway 5 19.2 mi 22m
US 63 8.5 mi 9m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway 7.5 mi 8m
IA 28 4.7 mi 7m
North Merino Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Vine Street 0.4 mi 1m
Walnut Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: A Avenue West — 32.4 mi, about 36m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Walnut Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Walnut Street
2

Turn left onto North Merino Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Merino Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
4

Merge onto US 63; IA 163

8.5 mi · 9 min · US 63; IA 163
5

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
6

Turn left onto IA 92

32 mi · 36 min · A Avenue West
7

Turn right

0.1 mi · 7 sec
8

Continue on IA 5

19 mi · 22 min · State Highway 5
9

Merge onto US 65; IA 5

7.5 mi · 8 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 99 Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn right onto IA 28

4.7 mi · 7 min · IA 28
12

Turn left onto Vine Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Vine Street
13

Arrive at destination

Vine Street

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short drive time of 1h 32m, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure. Leaving Eddyville in the morning or afternoon will allow you to complete this 75.8-mile trip well within daylight hours. With a fuel cost estimated at $12, it's a budget-friendly trip, but it’s always wise to start with a full tank. There are no designated stops listed, so plan your own if needed, perhaps in one of the towns along State Highway 5. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 32.4-mile stretch on A Avenue West, as services might be less frequent.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.9 miles from Eddyville, IA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 32.4 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 17 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.9 miles or 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Eddyville, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Eddyville, IA

This is one driving day of about 75.8 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Eddyville, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on A Avenue West for about 32.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Altoona, IA

38 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.

Popular next leg

Altoona, IA to West Des Moines, IA

15.6 mi · 26m

Pacing Suggestions

Pella, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pleasantville, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from Eddyville, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

St. Kilda Collective

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Des Moines, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+15157052030

Visit website

Paula's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Des Moines, Iowa

0.3 mi

The Homestyle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Oskaloosa, Iowa

1.5 mi

Best coffee break · first break window

Smokey Row Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Near the start, short detour

First break · 13min in 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+16416761600

Visit website

TMC Chrome Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Des Moines, Iowa

1.5 mi

SweetDude Coffee & Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clive, Iowa

2.7 mi

St. Kilda Collective

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+15157052030

Visit website

Paula's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+15152773404

The Homestyle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Hours: 5 am–1:30 pm

+16416735306

Visit website

El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15152262182

Visit website

Spirit Cafe - Special needs work program

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+16416769528

Visit website

Waveland Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15152794341

Visit website

Smokey Row Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10

Pleasantville, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15158485959

Visit website

Zanzibar's Coffee Adventure

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–4 pm

+15152447694

Visit website

Smokey Row Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+16416761600

Visit website

TMC Chrome Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15154758085

SweetDude Coffee & Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Clive, Iowa

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+15155090915

Visit website

Life Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Urbandale, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

Paris Banh Mi Windsor Heights

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20

Windsor Heights, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm

+15152778888

Visit website

University Library Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+15152550433

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 10

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 70.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | North Merino Avenue

Turn left onto North Merino Avenue

Navigation decision point

3
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
10.4 mi into trip | ~14m in

Take the exit toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville

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

Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
4
10.9 mi into trip | ~15m in | IA 92 / A Avenue West

Turn left onto IA 92 / A Avenue West

Navigation decision point

8
70.1 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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

$11.85 one way

$23.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.01 $26.02
premium $4.89 $14.59 $29.17
diesel $5.61 $16.74 $33.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.7 0 $7.96 $3.64
Efficient EV 19 0 $6.63 $3.03
EV Truck/SUV 30.3 0 $10.61 $4.85

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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 20, 2026

Origin

Eddyville, IA

Late night in Eddyville on Tuesday

Local time

5:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

West Des Moines, IA

Late night in West Des Moines on Tuesday

Local time

5:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Altoona, IA

38 mi in

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 32m 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 drive presents a mixed profile, with 43% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a variety of road types, so be prepared for shifts in speed and terrain. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 32.4 miles on A Avenue West. This suggests a significant portion of the drive will be on a less varied, potentially more direct road before transitioning to other routes. The overall character is one of practical transit, not necessarily designed for scenic overlooks but for efficient travel.

43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.4 mi on A Avenue West.

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 around 0.4 miles in near North Merino Avenue.

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 32m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North Merino Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Eddyville, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Knoxville and Martensdale.

Knoxville

10.4 mi in | ~14m

Martensdale

70.1 mi in | ~1h 23m

About the Cities

Arriving in West Des Moines, IA

Full guide →

West Des Moines is a small city in Central Iowa, the largest suburb of Des Moines.

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 1h 32m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (43%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 32.4 miles on A Avenue West. 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 0.4 miles (North Merino Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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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