If you are looking to travel from Oakland to West Des Moines, you are in for a straightforward 83.5-mile journey across the Iowa landscape. Expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 23 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a quick day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Since you aren't hitting any major interstates, you should budget about $13 for fuel for the entire excursion. Both the start and end points are located within the Midwest, keeping the regional character consistent throughout your travels. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you have the flexibility to complete the trip in one efficient push.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.4 miles from Oakland, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
63.6 mi
1h 9m
John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi
12m
30th Street
3 mi
7m
330th Street
2.5 mi
6m
63rd Street
1.1 mi
2m
Dogwood Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Vine Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Dows Williams Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 63.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Oakland Drive
0.2 mi·42 sec·Oakland Drive
2
Turn right onto Dogwood Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Dogwood Avenue
3
Turn right onto 30th Street
3.0 mi·7 min·30th Street
4
Continue on 330th Street
2.5 mi·6 min·330th Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto Dows Williams Road
0.3 mi·42 sec·Dows Williams Road
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Woolstock
7
Merge onto I 35
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
9
Continue on John MacVicar Freeway
9.4 mi·12 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Toward I 235 West: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 4Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor HeightsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi·2 min·63rd Street
12
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi·59 sec·Vine Street
13
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of freedom to choose your departure time based on your personal schedule rather than traffic patterns. Keep in mind that since this is a local road route, you should remain vigilant at intersections and turns where signage might change frequently. Although the $13 fuel estimate is modest, it is wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Oakland, as local road routes may have fewer service options than major highways. Since there are no designated stops on this 83.5-mile stretch, plan to handle any necessary breaks before you depart or once you arrive. Staying alert is key, as the turn-heavy nature of the route means you will be actively maneuvering for the duration of your 1 hour and 23 minute transit.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.4 miles from Oakland, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.6 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.4 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oakland, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oakland, IA
This is one driving day of about 82.7 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Oakland, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 63.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 80.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.4 mi into trip|~15m in|Dows Williams Road
At end of road, turn right onto Dows Williams Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.7 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the ramp toward Woolstock
Navigation decision point
Toward Woolstock
5
7.1 mi into trip|~17m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
70.7 mi into trip|~1h 26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 235 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 235 West: Des Moines
8
80.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
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.
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.93 one way
$25.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.20
$28.39
premium
$4.89
$15.91
$31.83
diesel
$5.61
$18.26
$36.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.68
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.29
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Oakland, IA
Night
in Oakland on Saturday
Local time
11:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Des Moines, IA
Night
in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 13 to 18 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
30 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
1h 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of high-speed interstates; this route relies entirely on local roads like Dogwood Avenue, 30th Street, and 330th Street. With 0% of the journey spent on highways, you will experience a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. The road's personality is defined by these technical, winding segments rather than long, straight stretches. Navigating these local corridors provides a more intimate look at the regional terrain as you transition from Oakland toward West Des Moines. You will find that the constant adjustments required by the turn-heavy path keep the drive engaging from start to finish.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.6 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near Dows Williams Road.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 43m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (Dows Williams Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,209 ft825 ft
Total Climb
324 ft
Total Descent
628 ft
Highest Point
1,209 ft
~11.8 mi in
Elevation Range
384 ft
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 Oakland, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Woolstock along the way.
Woolstock
6.7 mi in|~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 63.6 miles on I 35. 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 6.4 miles (Dows Williams Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
