Origin
Newton, IA
Night in Newton on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Newton, 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
43m
Distance
34.4 mi
55 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 43m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 46m
12 PM
0h 45m
3 PM
0h 46m
5 PM
0h 50m
8 PM
0h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Newton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across the Iowa heartland, the 34.4-mile trip from Newton to Des Moines is an excellent choice. Expect to spend about 43 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via US 6, the John MacVicar Freeway, and South 8th Avenue West. Because the entire journey is located within the Midwest, you can anticipate a familiar regional atmosphere throughout. With a modest fuel budget of just $5, this route is highly efficient for commuters or travelers looking to reach the state capital without a significant investment of time or money.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 26.6 mi | 29m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| South 8th Avenue West | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South 12th Avenue West | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street South | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 1st Avenue East | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| West 12th Street South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 26.6 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on US 6
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue East
2
Turn left onto 1st Street South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Street South
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue West
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 8th Avenue West
4
Continue on West 12th Street South
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
West 12th Street South
5
Keep slight right at fork onto South 12th Avenue West
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
South 12th Avenue West
6
Turn left onto US 6; IA 14
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
US 6; IA 14
7
Take the ramp onto US 6
26 mi
·
29 min
·
US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the slight left lane.
9
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
13
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
1st Street South
Turn left onto 1st Street South
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South 8th Avenue West
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue West
Navigation decision point
7
28.8 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 137A
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
33.5 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village
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 8B
Toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, Ea...
8
33.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight right at fork toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Aven...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.38 one way
$10.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.90 | $11.81 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.62 | $13.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.60 | $15.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.61 | $1.65 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.01 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.82 | $2.20 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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
Des Moines, IA
Night in Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
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
20 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
43m 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 highway-focused drive is built for speed and efficiency, with 89% of the journey taking place on major roads. You will settle into a steady rhythm quickly, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 26.6 miles while cruising on US 6. While the drive is relatively brief, the transition from the smaller community of Newton into the more developed landscape of Des Moines gives the route a functional, interstate-style personality. Do not expect technical twists or winding backroads; instead, prepare for a consistent, high-speed experience that gets you to your destination with minimal fuss. It is a no-nonsense path designed for travelers who prioritize direct arrival over scenic wandering.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.6 mi on US 6.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and John MacVicar Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near 1st Street South.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 34.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 43m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (1st Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (South 8th Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 43m. Total distance: 34.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 26.6 miles on US 6. 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 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 0.3 miles (1st Street South): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (South 8th Avenue West): Navigation decision point; at 28.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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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