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Trip from Indianola, IA to 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

30m

Distance

18 mi

29 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 28m ★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 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
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Warren County, Iowa, United States

Indianola, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

Downtown Des Moines, IA, IA

Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This short 18-mile drive from Indianola to Des Moines, IA, is easily doable in about 30 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads like South Jefferson Way, Southeast 14th Street, and Southeast 6th Street, with no highway driving involved. Given the minimal distance and duration, an overnight split is unnecessary, and the estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $3. This route stays within the Midwest region and the state of Iowa, offering a straightforward local connection. It's a practical option for getting from point A to point B without much fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Jefferson Way 10.2 mi 16m
Southeast 14th Street 2.4 mi 4m
Southeast 6th Street 1.8 mi 3m
Southridge Boulevard 1.7 mi 2m
Pennsylvania Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Indianola Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
East 6th Street 0.3 mi <1m
East Locust Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: South Jefferson Way — 10.2 mi, about 16m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

79 ft · 11 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto IA 92

291 ft · 8 sec · East 2nd Avenue
3

Turn right onto US 65; US 69

10 mi · 16 min · South Jefferson Way
4

Continue on US 69

1.7 mi · 2 min · Southridge Boulevard
5

Continue on US 69

2.4 mi · 4 min · Southeast 14th Street
6

Turn slight left onto Indianola Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Indianola Avenue
7

Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street

1.8 mi · 3 min · Southeast 6th Street
8

Continue on East 6th Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · East 6th Street
9

Turn right onto East Locust Street

491 ft · 14 sec · East Locust Street
10

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Pennsylvania Avenue
11

Turn left onto East University Avenue

100 ft · 8 sec · East University Avenue
12

Arrive at destination

East University Avenue

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 5

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | IA 92 / East 2nd Avenue

Turn left onto IA 92 / East 2nd Avenue

Navigation decision point

3
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 65; US 69 / South Jefferson Way

Turn right onto US 65; US 69 / South Jefferson Way

Navigation decision point

4
15.1 mi into trip | ~24m in | Southeast 6th Street

Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street

Navigation decision point

5
17.2 mi into trip | ~28m in | East Locust Street

Turn right onto East Locust Street

Navigation decision point

3
17.3 mi into trip | ~28m in | Pennsylvania Avenue

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.81 one way

$5.63 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $3.09 $6.18
premium $4.89 $3.46 $6.93
diesel $5.61 $3.97 $7.95

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.4 0 $1.89 $0.86
Efficient EV 4.5 0 $1.58 $0.72
EV Truck/SUV 7.2 0 $2.52 $1.15

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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 18, 2026

Origin

Indianola, IA

Morning in Indianola on Tuesday

Local time

7:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Sunny

WNW 21 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 1:08PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 12:42PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

Destination

Des Moines, IA

Morning in Des Moines on Tuesday

Local time

7:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Sunny

WNW 20 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 1:08PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 12:42PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

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

1 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

30m 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?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 18-mile journey. With 0% highway share, you'll be on city streets for the entire duration. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.2 miles on South Jefferson Way. This profile suggests a drive where you'll be making frequent turns and navigating through developed areas rather than open highways. The character of the road will likely shift as you move through different local zones, so stay alert to changing speed limits and traffic patterns.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.2 mi on South Jefferson Way.

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 early in the drive near IA 92 / East 2nd 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 30m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 / East 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 65; US 69 / South Jefferson Way): Navigation decision point; at 15.1 miles (Southeast 6th Street): Navigation decision point.

About the Cities

Arriving 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 30m. Total distance: 18 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

30m 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 10.2 miles on South Jefferson Way. 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: near the start (IA 92 / East 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 65; US 69 / South Jefferson Way): Navigation decision point; at 15.1 miles (Southeast 6th Street): Navigation decision point.

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