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Trip from Red Oak, 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

2h 26m

Distance

113.5 mi

183 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

17 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
2h 16m ★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Montgomery County, Iowa, United States

Red Oak, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties, Iowa, United States

West Des Moines, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Red Oak, IA to West Des Moines, IA covers 113.5 miles and takes about 2h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 6, North Broadway Street, 550th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62 miles on US 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.74 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

56.7 miles from Red Oak, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 6 62 mi 1h 7m
North Broadway Street 14 mi 20m
550th Street 10 mi 14m
White Pole Road 9 mi 13m
650th Street 6.4 mi 8m
East 7th Street 3.5 mi 6m
John MacVicar Freeway 3.3 mi 4m
8th Street 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 6 — 62 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak, IA and West Des Moines, IA.

1

Start on East Reed Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · East Reed Street
2

Turn right onto IA 48

14 mi · 20 min · North Broadway Street
3

Continue on IA 48

0.9 mi · 1 min · M Avenue
4

Continue on IA 48

4.8 mi · 7 min · 550th Street
5

Continue on IA 48

1.0 mi · 1 min · Adair Street
6

Continue on IA 48

5.3 mi · 7 min · 550th Street
7

Turn right onto US 6

8.9 mi · 13 min · White Pole Road
8

Continue on US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · Southwest 7th Street
9

Continue on US 6

0.6 mi · 1 min · West 7th Street
10

Continue on US 6

0.1 mi · 22 sec · White Pole Road
11

Continue on US 6; IA 83

3.5 mi · 6 min · East 7th Street
12

Turn left onto US 6; US 71

6.4 mi · 8 min · 650th Street
13

Take the exit onto US 6

62 mi · 1 hr 7 min · US 6
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 235

3.3 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123A Toward I 235 East: Des Moines Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 3 Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn right onto 8th Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · 8th Street
Use the right lane.
17

Turn left onto Vine Street

468 ft · 12 sec · Vine Street
18

Arrive at destination

Vine Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56.7 miles from Red Oak, IA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 25 miles or 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 56.7 miles or 1h 22m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Des Moines, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Red Oak, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Red Oak, IA

This is one driving day of about 113.5 miles and 2h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Red Oak, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 6 for about 62 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Atlantic, IA

57 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

Atlantic, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Atlantic, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.7 miles from Red Oak, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 6 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

St. Kilda Collective

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Des Moines, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 113.5

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+15157052030

Visit website

Paula's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Des Moines, Iowa

0.3 mi

Ambro's Roadhouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

De Soto, Iowa

1.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Playgrounds Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Waukee, Iowa

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 105.4

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+15156446331

Visit website

SweetDude Coffee & Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clive, Iowa

2.7 mi

Hyper Energy Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Waukee, Iowa

2.7 mi

St. Kilda Collective

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 113.5

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+15157052030

Visit website

Paula's Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.5

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+15152773404

Ambro's Roadhouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 97.3

De Soto, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15158349174

Visit website

Casa De Oro Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Red Oak, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17126236383

Visit website

Early Bird West Des Moines

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.4

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–2:30 pm

+15155282212

Visit website

Desi Fresh Indian Restaurant & Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+15154109494

Visit website

Los Altos Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 81.1

Stuart, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15155238000

Visit website

Stack Wellness Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+15159877392

Visit website

Playgrounds Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+15156446331

Visit website

SweetDude Coffee & Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.5

Clive, Iowa

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+15155090915

Visit website

Hyper Energy Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+15152078041

Visit website

Hyper Energy Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 105.4

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+15156446155

Visit website

coffeegirl

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.5 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 40.5

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17122501539

Visit website

Vintage Road Coffee Co. - MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10 mile 105.4

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+13193210534

Visit website

TMC Chrome Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 113.5

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15154758085

Casey Creamery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10 mile 64.9

Casey, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+16417462735

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 97.3

De Soto, Iowa

+31880109500

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 81.1

Stuart, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

Later in the drive, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 81.1

Stuart, Iowa

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

ChargePoint Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

+18887584389

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 105.4

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 105.4

Waukee, IA

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Love's

1.5 mi from route

Paris Banh Mi Windsor Heights

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.5

Windsor Heights, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm

+15152778888

Visit website

University Library Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 113.5

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+15152550433

Visit website

Z'Mariks Noodle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 105.4

Clive, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+15152239605

Visit website

Wiota Steakhouse & Lounge

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20 mile 40.5

Wiota, Iowa

Hours: 5–10 pm

+17127839232

Visit website

Fireside Lounge

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 32.4

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 12 pm–2 am

+17122432426

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 112.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | IA 48 / North Broadway Street

Turn right onto IA 48 / North Broadway Street

Navigation decision point

4
40.2 mi into trip | ~1h 2m in | US 6; US 71 / 650th Street

Turn left onto US 6; US 71 / 650th Street

Navigation decision point

8
108.6 mi into trip | ~2h 18m in | I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 123A Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
111.9 mi into trip | ~2h 22m 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
5
112.4 mi into trip | ~2h 23m in | 8th Street

Turn right onto 8th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.74 one way

$35.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $19.48 $38.97
premium $4.89 $21.84 $43.68
diesel $5.61 $25.06 $50.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

17 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Hy-Vee - Tesla Supercharger

West Des Moines, IA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Fareway Store #106 (Clive, IA)

Clive, IA

Electrify America

6 DCFC

804 Nile Kinnick Drive

Adel, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

Waukee Kum & Go 540 (Waukee, Iowa)

Waukee, IA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

155 West Hickman Rd

Waukee, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

11989 Hickman Rd

Urbandale, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

1701 SE 37th St

Grimes, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

West DesMoines HyVee

West DesMoines, IA

CHARGELAB

4 DCFC

CHARGELAB: 7 Electrify America: 3 RED_E: 2 ChargePoint Network: 2 Tesla: 1 Non-Networked: 1 Blink Network: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.1 0 $11.92 $5.45
Efficient EV 28.4 0 $9.93 $4.54
EV Truck/SUV 45.4 0 $15.89 $7.26

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Red Oak, IA

Morning in Red Oak on Sunday

Local time

11:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Sunny

NW 13 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 8:05AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 5:56AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

Destination

West Des Moines, IA

Morning in West Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

11:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Mostly Sunny

NW 9 to 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 8:05AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 5:56AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

6 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

2h 26m 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?

113.5 mi in 2h 26m — 58% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: US 6.

58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on US 6.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IA 48 / North Broadway Street.

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 2h 26m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 48 / North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 6; US 71 / 650th Street): Navigation decision point; at 108.6 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 2h 26m. Total distance: 113.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (58%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 62 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 48 / North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 40.2 miles (US 6; US 71 / 650th Street): Navigation decision point; at 108.6 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

West Des Moines, IA to Red Oak, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

113.8 mi 2h 27m

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