Origin
Jefferson, IA
Afternoon in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, IA to West 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 22m
Distance
61.3 mi
99 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 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, IA
Wikimedia Commons
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 61.3-mile journey from Jefferson, IA, to West Des Moines, IA, is a straightforward, one-day drive. Expect the trip to take about 1 hour and 22 minutes, making it an easy excursion without the need for an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is a modest $10, reflecting its relatively short distance. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with only a small percentage on highways, so plan for a more engaging, turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed cruise. This route stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar landscape throughout.
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 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 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 West 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
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
14
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.
15
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
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.
18
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vine Street
22
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.6 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 115 decision points cluster between mile 52.1 and 59.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
52.8 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 slight right lane.
6
56 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
56.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
59.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m 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
$9.58 one way
$19.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.52 | $21.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.80 | $23.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.53 | $27.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
West Des Moines, IA
Afternoon in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
3:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Madrid, IA
31 mi in
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 22m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than cruising on a consistent highway. With only 13% of the drive on highways, you'll spend most of your time on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, Northwest Granger Drive, and Neola Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.7 miles on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. Be prepared for a more engaging driving experience that requires your attention to navigation and road changes.
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?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 52.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.3 miles you will encounter 11 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 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Jefferson, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
Council Bluffs
52.1 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Des Moines
56.4 mi in
|
~1h 14m
|
via Ramp 72 I
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 22m. Total distance: 61.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
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.
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 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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