Origin
Van Meter, IA
Late night in Van Meter on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Van Meter, IA to West Des Moines, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
15.5 mi
25 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 19m
★
6 AM
0h 21m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 22m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 22m
5 PM
0h 24m
8 PM
0h 19m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Van Meter, IA
Joaquin Carfagna
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Van Meter, IA to West Des Moines, IA is 15.5 miles and takes about 20m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Midwest region, specifically Iowa, making it a convenient local journey. The drive is predominantly highway, so expect efficient travel rather than winding country roads. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a quick commute or a short leg of a larger adventure. You'll likely encounter moderate traffic typical of interstate travel near urban areas. Given the minimal distance, this route is perfect for a same-day excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 9.1 mi | 9m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| 8th Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| R Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Mill Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Vine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 9.1 mi, about 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Van Meter, IA and West Des Moines, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR R16
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Mill Street
3
Continue on CR R16
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
R Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I-80 east: Des Moines
5
Merge onto I 80
9.1 mi
·
9 min
·
I 80
6
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.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto 8th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street
Use the right lane.
9
Turn left onto Vine Street
468 ft
·
12 sec
·
Vine Street
10
Arrive at destination
Vine Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 14.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR R16 / Mill Street
Turn left onto CR R16 / Mill Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the ramp toward I-80 east: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I-80 east: Des Moines
8
10.6 mi into trip
|
~12m 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
13.9 mi into trip
|
~17m 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
14.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.42 one way
$4.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.66 | $5.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.98 | $5.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.42 | $6.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.63 | $0.74 |
| Efficient EV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.17 | $0.99 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Late night in West Des Moines on Tuesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
20m 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 80% of the journey taking place on major roadways like I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. You'll experience a consistent pace for about 9.1 miles on I 80, which is the longest uninterrupted stretch. The road profile suggests a focus on efficient travel, minimizing stops and maximizing speed. While primarily interstate, you will transition onto 8th Street as you approach your destination. Expect a practical, no-frills driving experience designed for quick transit between these two Iowa locations.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. You will hit about 7 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR R16 / Mill Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 15.5 miles you will encounter 7 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR R16 / Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.6 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Between Van Meter, IA and West Des Moines, IA, road signs point toward Windsor Heights and Des Moines.
Windsor Heights
13.9 mi in
|
~17m
Des Moines
13.9 mi in
|
~17m
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 20m. Total distance: 15.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.1 miles on I 80. 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 0.2 miles (CR R16 / Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 10.6 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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