Origin
Jefferson, IA
Late night in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, IA to Des Moines, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
64.6 mi
104 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Jefferson to Des Moines, you are in for a straightforward 66.1-mile journey across the Iowa landscape. Expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 11 minutes of pure transit time. Since this route is well within the range of a single day, you do not need to worry about booking an overnight stay to complete the trip. With a estimated fuel cost of just $10, it is an incredibly budget-friendly excursion between these two Midwest locales. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you will want to stay alert as you transition between your origin and destination. It serves as a practical, no-fuss connection for anyone needing to get from the smaller community of Jefferson to the capital city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| George P. Soumas Memorial Highway | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| Neola Avenue | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| I 80 | 7.3 mi | 8m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| 2nd Avenue | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Elm Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
— 17.7 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on West Lincolnway Street
22 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Lincolnway Street
2
Turn right onto IA 4
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Elm Street
3
Continue on IA 4
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
N Avenue
4
Continue on South Elm Street
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Elm Street
5
Continue on IA 4
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Neola Avenue
6
Continue on IA 4
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 4
7
At end of road, turn left onto IA 4; IA 141
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 141
17 mi
·
23 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
9
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
10
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
11
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
12
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
13
Continue on IA 141
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on IA 141
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
15
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
16
Merge onto I 80; I 35
7.3 mi
·
8 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn right onto IA 415
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest 2nd Street
19
Continue on IA 415
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
2nd Avenue
20
Turn left onto University Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
University Avenue
21
Continue on East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.3 miles from Jefferson, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 12 and 60.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
12 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
At end of road, turn left onto IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
4
12.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Dave...
5
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
60.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward IA 415: Polk City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 135
Toward IA 415: Polk City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.10 one way
$20.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.09 | $22.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.26 | $28.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.78 | $3.10 |
| Efficient EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.04 | $4.13 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Des Moines, IA
Late night in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
22 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 28m 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?
Forget the monotony of the interstate; this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local character. You will spend your entire 66.1-mile trip navigating local roads rather than high-speed highways, as the highway share for this drive is exactly 0%. Your journey relies on a series of turns along South Elm Street, N Avenue, and Neola Avenue to keep you moving toward your destination. Because there is no single long-distance stretch—in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment on South Elm Street is essentially non-existent—you should be prepared for frequent adjustments behind the wheel. Expect a hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention as you wind through the rural Iowa terrain.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 12 miles in near IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway.
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 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12 miles (IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.6 miles: 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.
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 Jefferson, IA to Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Davenport along the way.
Davenport
52.6 mi in
|
~1h 10m
About the Cities
Arriving in Des Moines, IA
Full guide →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.
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 28m. Total distance: 64.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (13%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. 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 12 miles (IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 52.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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