Origin
Knoxville, IA
Morning in Knoxville on Sunday
Local time
6:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knoxville, 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
50m
Distance
37.3 mi
60 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knoxville, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward connection in the Midwest, the 37.3-mile trip from Knoxville to Des Moines is an ideal choice. You can easily complete this drive in about 50 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for the journey, keeping your transit costs minimal. Since both cities are located within Iowa, you will remain in the same region throughout the entire trek. Whether you are heading to the capital for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused route offers a reliable and efficient way to travel between the two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| IA 5 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Southeast 14th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Southeast 6th Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Southridge Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Indianola Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 19.2 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knoxville, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on IA 14
36 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Lincoln Street
2
Turn right onto IA 92 Bus
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Pleasant Street
3
Continue on IA 92 Bus
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
McKimber Street
4
Continue on IA 92 Bus
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
McKimber Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
6
Merge onto IA 5; IA 92
6.7 mi
·
7 min
·
IA 5; IA 92
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
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 69 North: Des Moines
11
Turn straight onto US 69
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southridge Boulevard
12
Continue on US 69
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast 14th Street
13
Turn slight left onto Indianola Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Indianola Avenue
14
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 6th Street
15
Continue on East 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East 6th Street
16
Turn right onto East Locust Street
491 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Locust Street
17
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
18
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Knoxville, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.5 — 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 Bus / West Pleasant Street
Turn right onto IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IA 5; IA 92
Merge onto IA 5; IA 92
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
29.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
Take the exit toward US 69 North: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69 North: Des Moines
4
34.4 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
Southeast 6th Street
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
36.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
East Locust Street
Turn right onto East Locust Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.83 one way
$11.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.40 | $12.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.18 | $14.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.24 | $16.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.92 | $1.79 |
| Efficient EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.26 | $1.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
6:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 18 mph
40% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 3:26PM CDT until April 17 at 4:30PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 17 at 3:26PM CDT until April 17 at 3:45PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
69°F
Altoona, IA
19 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
7 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
50m 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 straightforward highway-focused experience as you navigate your way toward Des Moines. With roughly 69% of your travel occurring on major roads, you will spend the majority of your time on State Highway 5 and IA 5. The road maintains a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 19.2 miles along State Highway 5. As you approach your destination, the path transitions into Southeast 14th Street, guiding you steadily into the city. You will find this to be a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes directness over technical curves or complex navigation.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.2 mi on State Highway 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 5 and IA 5. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 37.3 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (IA 92 Bus / West Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (IA 5; IA 92): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 50m. Total distance: 37.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.2 miles on State Highway 5. 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 Bus / West Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (IA 5; IA 92): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 29.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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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