Origin
Pleasantville, IA
Afternoon in Pleasantville on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pleasantville, 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
37m
Distance
27 mi
43 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pleasantville, IA
Tom Fisk
Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pleasantville to Des Moines is 27 miles and takes about 37 minutes via State Highway 5, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within Iowa, making it a convenient option for a quick journey between two Midwest locations. The drive is predominantly highway, so you'll likely experience a straightforward commute rather than a winding scenic tour. With a duration under an hour and minimal cost, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, offering a simple transition between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 5 | 17 mi | 19m |
| Southeast 14th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Southeast 6th Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Southridge Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Pennsylvania Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Indianola Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Jasper Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 5
— 17 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasantville, IA and Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
94 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto CR G40
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Jasper Street
3
Continue on CR G40
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
County Highway G40
4
Turn right onto IA 5
17 mi
·
19 min
·
State Highway 5
5
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 69 North: Des Moines
7
Turn straight onto US 69
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Southridge Boulevard
8
Continue on US 69
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Southeast 14th Street
9
Turn slight left onto Indianola Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Indianola Avenue
10
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast 6th Street
11
Continue on East 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East 6th Street
12
Turn right onto East Locust Street
491 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Locust Street
13
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Avenue
14
Turn left onto East University Avenue
100 ft
·
8 sec
·
East University Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
East University Avenue
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.2 — 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
|
CR G40 / East Jasper Street
Turn right onto CR G40 / East Jasper Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 5 / State Highway 5
Turn right onto IA 5 / State Highway 5
Navigation decision point
4
19.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward US 69 North: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69 North: Des Moines
4
24.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Southeast 6th Street
Turn right onto Southeast 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
26.2 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
East Locust Street
Turn right onto East Locust Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.22 one way
$8.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.63 | $9.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.20 | $10.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.96 | $11.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.36 | $1.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 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
Afternoon in Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
37m 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 route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 63% of the journey taking place on main roads like State Highway 5 and Southeast 14th Street. You'll encounter one continuous stretch of highway for 17 miles on State Highway 5, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The road transitions through different named streets as you approach your destination, shifting from highway to more urban thoroughfares. Expect a relatively quick and direct experience, with minimal deviations from established roadways.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17 mi on State Highway 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 5 and Southeast 14th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR G40 / East Jasper Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 37m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR G40 / East Jasper Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (IA 5 / State Highway 5): Navigation decision point; at 19.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
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 37m. Total distance: 27 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17 miles on State Highway 5. 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 (CR G40 / East Jasper Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (IA 5 / State Highway 5): Navigation decision point; at 19.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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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