Origin
Ogden, IA
Late night in Ogden on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ogden, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
45.1 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ogden, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ogden, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 45.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 1 minute via Northwest Granger Drive and I 80, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. The drive is characterized by numerous turns, suggesting a route that navigates local roads before merging onto the interstate. With only 14% of the journey on the highway, expect a more engaged driving experience than a pure interstate trek. This route is ideal for a quick transition between areas without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest Granger Drive | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| H Avenue | 11.6 mi | 15m |
| I 80 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| N Avenue | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| 8th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Northwest Granger Drive
— 15.6 mi, about 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ogden, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on CR E41
87 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 1st Street
3
Continue on US 169
12 mi
·
15 min
·
H Avenue
4
Continue on US 169
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
6
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
7
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
8
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
9
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
10
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
11
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.
12
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Merge onto I 235
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vine Street
19
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.6 miles from Ogden, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 14.1 and 43.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
7
36 mi into trip
|
~47m 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...
6
39.9 mi into trip
|
~52m 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
40.3 mi into trip
|
~53m 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
43.5 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
$7.05 one way
$14.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.74 | $15.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.68 | $17.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.96 | $19.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.74 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.95 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.31 | $2.89 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 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
West Des Moines, IA
Late night in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Cloudy
NNW 10 to 14 mph
6% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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 1m 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?
This drive offers a turn-heavy local experience for a significant portion of its 45.1 miles. With only 14% of the route on the highway, you'll spend most of your time navigating county roads and smaller thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 15.6 miles on Northwest Granger Drive, indicating a good segment of consistent travel before encountering more intersections. The profile suggests a route that requires your attention, with frequent changes in direction rather than long, monotonous stretches of highway. Be prepared for a more interactive drive that winds through the local landscape.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.6 mi on Northwest Granger Drive.
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 14.1 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 45.1 miles you will encounter 10 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 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 36 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.9 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 Ogden, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Des Moines.
Council Bluffs
36 mi in
|
~47m
Des Moines
40.3 mi in
|
~53m
|
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 1m. Total distance: 45.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m 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 15.6 miles on Northwest Granger Drive. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 36 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.9 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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