Origin
Grimes, IA
Late night in Grimes on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grimes, IA to West Des Moines, 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
19m
Distance
12.3 mi
20 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grimes, IA
Alexander Krivitskiy
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Grimes to West Des Moines, you are looking at a quick 12.3-mile trip that typically takes about 17 minutes to complete. This journey stays entirely within the Iowa Midwest, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day outing. You will not need to worry about extensive trip planning or overnight stays for such a short distance. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is a very budget-friendly connection between these two communities. Whether you are commuting or heading out for local errands, this route provides a straightforward link without the need for complex logistics.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 8th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| East 1st Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Ramp 72 I | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| I 35 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Grimes Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 3.3 mi, about 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grimes, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Southeast Main Street
22 ft
·
4 sec
·
Southeast Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 44
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 1st Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
4
Merge onto IA 141
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
5
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vine Street
14
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 10.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.1 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
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.
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Coun...
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m 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
7.5 mi into trip
|
~11m 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
10.7 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward 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 Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.92 one way
$3.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.11 | $4.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.37 | $4.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.72 | $5.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| Efficient EV | 3.1 | 0 | $1.08 | $0.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.79 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
West Des Moines, IA
Late night in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:22 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
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
19m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate experience, as this route has zero highway share. You will navigate through local infrastructure, primarily utilizing East 1st Street, Grimes Boulevard, and Southeast Grimes Boulevard. Because the longest stretch is 0 miles on East 1st Street, you should stay alert for frequent turns and intersection changes throughout the 17-minute duration. The road’s personality is defined by its local nature, requiring your full attention as you transition between these specific thoroughfares. It is a practical, functional drive that keeps you off major highways entirely.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in.
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 11 decision points packed into just 12.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 19m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
972 ft
825 ft
Total Climb
136 ft
Total Descent
274 ft
Highest Point
972 ft
~8.8 mi in
Elevation Range
147 ft
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.
Between Grimes, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
Council Bluffs
3.1 mi in
|
~5m
Des Moines
7.5 mi in
|
~11m
|
via Ramp 72 I
Windsor Heights
10.7 mi in
|
~15m
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 19m. Total distance: 12.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.3 miles on I 80. 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 West 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: at 3.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. 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 West Des Moines, IA
More trips to West Des Moines, IA
Explore more options from Grimes, IA or browse trips ending in West Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.