Origin
Pella, IA
Night in Pella on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pella, 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
1h 5m
Distance
49.1 mi
79 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 0m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pella, IA
Wikimedia Commons
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 57-mile drive from Pella to West Des Moines, Iowa, is a quick 1-hour journey, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via I-235 West and John MacVicar Freeway, with a portion on IA 28. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this route is budget-friendly. The profile suggests a turn-heavy local drive, so don't expect a high-speed interstate cruise. Given its short duration and manageable distance, it’s ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing ample time to explore your destination upon arrival. This trip stays within the Midwest region, offering a familiar landscape throughout.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 163 | 39.1 mi | 48m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| Washington Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| 63rd Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Vine Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 163
— 39.1 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pella, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Washington Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
2
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
3
Merge onto IA 163
39 mi
·
48 min
·
IA 163
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-235 west
Use the slight right lane.
5
Merge onto I 235
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 4
Toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto IA 28
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
63rd Street
8
Turn right onto Vine Street
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Vine Street
9
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.5 miles from Pella, 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 1.6 and 48.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.6 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
41.1 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 west
Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I-235 west
5
41.7 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
8
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
4
48.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
Vine Street
Turn right onto Vine Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.68 one way
$15.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.43 | $16.86 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.45 | $18.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| Efficient EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.30 | $1.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.87 | $3.14 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Night in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
25 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
18 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 5m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this 57-mile route, indicated by a 0% highway share. This means you'll be navigating more local roads and intersections rather than long stretches of uninterrupted highway. The drive progresses through a series of turns and changes in road type, rather than a consistent pace. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch specified, the 'turn-heavy' nature suggests frequent adjustments and a more engaged driving experience. This is not a route for autopilot; you'll be actively managing your navigation as you transition between IA 28 and the freeways.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.1 mi on IA 163.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 163 and John MacVicar Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 5m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 41.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 41.7 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 49.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.1 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: at 1.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 41.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 41.7 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): 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.
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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