Origin
Osceola, IA
Afternoon in Osceola on Sunday
Local time
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Osceola, 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
50m
Distance
40.7 mi
66 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good 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 54m
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.
Osceola, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Osceola and West Des Moines, you are looking at a straightforward 40.8-mile journey. Expect to spend about 44 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate using a combination of County Road R35, I-35 North, and Grand Avenue to complete your transit. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel is sufficient for this short Midwestern trek. Since both cities are located within Iowa, the transition between these two points is seamless and consistent with the local landscape.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 32.3 mi | 34m |
| Grand Avenue | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| County Road R35 | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Vine Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 32.3 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Osceola, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on US 69
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR R35
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road R35
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I-35 north: Des Moines
4
Merge onto I 35
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 35
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 69
Toward Grand Avenue, DMACC West Campus
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Grand Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
7
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Vine Street
8
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.4 miles from Osceola, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 35.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR R35 / County Road R35
Turn left onto CR R35 / County Road R35
Navigation decision point
3
3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35 north: Des Moines
3
3.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
35.6 mi into trip
|
~40m in
Take the exit toward Grand Avenue, DMACC West Campus
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 69
Toward Grand Avenue, DMACC West Campus
6
35.9 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.36 one way
$12.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.99 | $13.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.83 | $15.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.99 | $17.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
4:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Norwalk, IA
20 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
21 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
50m 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 40.8-mile trip is best described as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. While you will utilize I-35 North for a portion of the transit, the route is not a monotonous highway grind, as the highway share is 0 percent based on your specific navigation needs. You will find that there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch on County Road R35, meaning you should stay alert for frequent turns. The transition from the quieter roads of Osceola into the busier infrastructure of West Des Moines changes the driving rhythm significantly. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that requires you to stay engaged with the road layout throughout the entire 44-minute duration.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.3 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Grand Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in near CR R35 / County Road R35.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Osceola, IA to West Des Moines, IA is easy. At 50m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles (CR R35 / County Road R35): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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.
On the drive from Osceola, IA to West Des Moines, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dmacc West Campus along the way.
Dmacc West Campus
35.6 mi in
|
~40m
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 50m. Total distance: 40.7 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 (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.3 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 1.8 miles (CR R35 / County Road R35): Navigation decision point; at 3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From West Des Moines, IA
More trips to West Des Moines, IA
Explore more options from Osceola, IA or browse trips ending in West Des Moines, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.