West Des Moines to Sheffield is 107.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 5 minutes via I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily through the Midwest region of Iowa. You'll be on the highway for most of the journey, making it a quick and efficient drive. If you're looking for a simple, no-fuss route to get between these two points, this is a solid option that won't eat up your entire day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.8 miles from West Des Moines, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
87.8 mi
1h 34m
John MacVicar Freeway
10.3 mi
13m
250th Street
6 mi
10m
Grand Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
56th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Gilman Street
0.4 mi
<1m
4th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
West Gilman Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Sheffield, IA.
1
Start on Vine Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Vine Street
2
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.4 mi·55 sec·4th Street
3
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto 56th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·56th Street
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I-235 east
6
Merge onto I 235
10 mi·13 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35
88 mi·1 hr 34 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward CR C13: Sheffield, Belmond
9
Turn right onto 250th Street
6.0 mi·10 min·250th Street
10
Continue on CR C13
347 ft·6 sec·Grant Street
11
Continue on Gilman Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·Gilman Street
12
At end of road, turn left onto South Lincoln Street
0.1 mi·14 sec·South Lincoln Street
13
Turn right onto West Gilman Street
0.3 mi·35 sec·West Gilman Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Gilman Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a short, 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will get you to Sheffield with ample time to spare for the rest of your day. Since the longest stretch is 87.8 miles on I 35, plan for a fuel stop before you get too far into that segment if your tank is low. There are no designated stops mentioned, so bring snacks and drinks to enjoy during the drive. Consider this a route where you can easily make quick stops for anything you might need along the way.
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 53.8 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.8 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sheffield, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA
This is one driving day of about 107.6 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from West Des Moines, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 87.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 100.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|56th Street
Turn left onto 56th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the ramp toward I-235 east
Navigation decision point
Toward I-235 east
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m 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 straight / slight right lanes.
5
100.4 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward CR C13: Sheffield, Belmond
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR C13: Sheffield, Belmond
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.82 one way
$33.64 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.47
$36.94
premium
$4.89
$20.71
$41.41
diesel
$5.61
$23.76
$47.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.42
$4.30
EV Truck/SUV
43
0
$15.06
$6.89
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
West Des Moines, IA
Late night
in West Des Moines on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sheffield, IA
Late night
in Sheffield on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with a 91% highway share. Expect to spend the majority of your time on I 35. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 87.8 miles on I 35, indicating a consistent, high-speed journey for a significant portion. While the main roads are primarily interstate, there are brief segments on local roads like John MacVicar Freeway and 250th Street. Overall, the character is one of steady progress on well-maintained routes.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.8 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and John MacVicar Freeway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 5m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (56th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Des Moines, IA and Sheffield, IA, road signs point toward Cr C13: Sheffield and Belmond.
Cr C13: Sheffield
100.4 mi in|~1h 52m
Belmond
100.4 mi in|~1h 52m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 107.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on I 35. 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 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.3 miles (56th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sheffield, IA before heading back.
