Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Night in West Des Moines on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Lamoni, 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 24m
Distance
72.4 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Des Moines, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Lamoni, IA
Luis Quintero
Trip Overview
This straightforward 72.4-mile drive from West Des Moines, IA to Lamoni, IA takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. Primarily using I-35, with brief segments on Grand Avenue and US 69, this route is almost entirely highway at 92% highway share. It's a perfect candidate for a single-day trip, especially considering the estimated fuel cost of just $11. The Midwest scenery provides a consistent backdrop for this efficient journey between two Iowa locations. You'll find this drive to be a simple and direct way to get between these two points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 64.3 mi | 1h 9m |
| Grand Avenue | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| US 69 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Vine Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South Chestnut Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 64.3 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Lamoni, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Vine Street
2
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Grand Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward DMACC West Campus
4
Merge onto I 35
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 35
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward Del Mar Boulevard, Old Santa Maria Road
6
Turn right onto US 69
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
US 69
7
Turn left onto South Chestnut Street
237 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Chestnut Street
8
Turn left onto West 4th Street
125 ft
·
5 sec
·
West 4th Street
9
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.2 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.3 miles.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 72.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward DMACC West Campus
Navigation decision point
Toward DMACC West Campus
3
5.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
69.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward Del Mar Boulevard, Old Santa Maria Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Del Mar Boulevard, Old Santa Maria Road
4
72.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn left onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.32 one way
$22.64 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.43 | $24.86 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.93 | $27.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.99 | $31.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
| Efficient EV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29 | 0 | $10.14 | $4.63 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Lamoni, IA
Night in Lamoni on Saturday
Local time
9:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Osceola, IA
36 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
22 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
1h 24m 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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this trip, with 92% of the 72.4 miles covered on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch will be approximately 64.3 miles along I-35. This means you'll experience a consistent pace for the majority of your journey. While much of the drive is on the interstate, be prepared for the transition onto Grand Avenue and US 69 as you approach your destination. The character remains that of a swift and efficient transit between the two Iowa cities.
92% 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: 64.3 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Grand Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from West Des Moines, IA to Lamoni, IA is easy. At 1h 24m with 92% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,167 ft
825 ft
Total Climb
662 ft
Total Descent
360 ft
Highest Point
1,167 ft
~46.5 mi in
Elevation Range
342 ft
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.
On the drive from West Des Moines, IA to Lamoni, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dmacc West Campus along the way.
Dmacc West Campus
5 mi in
|
~9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 72.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.3 miles on I 35. 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 0.8 miles (Grand Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 5.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lamoni, 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, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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