Origin
Oskaloosa, IA
Morning in Oskaloosa on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oskaloosa, 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
1h 16m
Distance
59.7 mi
96 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oskaloosa, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 59.7-mile drive from Oskaloosa, IA to Des Moines, IA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 16 minutes. Primarily utilizing IA 163, A Avenue East, and East University Avenue, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 97% of the journey on faster roads. Expect a fuel cost of around $9 for this relatively short distance. Given its proximity within the Midwest and the short duration, you won't need an overnight stop. This trip offers a direct and efficient way to travel between these two Iowa cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 163 | 57.8 mi | 1h 12m |
| A Avenue East | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East University Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
IA 163
— 57.8 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oskaloosa, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on this road
56 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto IA 92
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
A Avenue East
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
4
Merge onto IA 163
58 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
IA 163
5
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Oskaloosa, 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
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 1.9 — 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 / A Avenue East
Turn right onto IA 92 / A Avenue East
Navigation decision point
3
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
IA 163
Merge onto IA 163
Merge point - match speed before joining
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.33 one way
$18.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.25 | $20.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.49 | $22.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.18 | $26.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.27 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 14.9 | 0 | $5.22 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.36 | $3.82 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Morning in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
9:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 14 mph
2% chance
Live forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
51°F
Monroe, IA
30 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
38 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 16m 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?
The character of this drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, making up 97% of the total mileage. You'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of the journey, with the longest uninterrupted stretch measuring 57.8 miles along IA 163. This means you'll largely be on well-maintained, faster roads designed for efficient travel. The route doesn't offer significant shifts in road type, maintaining a predictable driving experience throughout its 59.7 miles.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
5 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.8 mi on IA 163.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 163 and A Avenue East. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 92 / A Avenue East.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Oskaloosa, IA to Des Moines, IA is easy. At 1h 16m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (IA 163): Merge point - match speed before joining.
About the Cities
Starting in Oskaloosa, IA
Full guide →Oskaloosa is a small city in Mahaska County, Iowa. Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University, a private university, and Lake Keomah State Park which is four miles east of the city.
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 1h 16m. Total distance: 59.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.8 miles on IA 163. 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 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (IA 163): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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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