How far is Des Moines, IA from Albia, IA?

The driving distance from Des Moines, IA to Albia, IA is about 65.5 miles (105.4 km), with a travel time of about 01h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 57.5 miles (92.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
65.49 mi
01h 30m
Flight
57.53 mi
92.59 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Des Moines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
57.53 mi
Kilometers
92.59 km
Flight Time
00h 06m

Driving Distance

Road route
65.49 mi
Kilometers
105.39 km
Drive Time
01h 30m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Albia
Sun, Apr 12, 8:58 AM CDT
Return by in Des Moines
Sun, Apr 12, 10:29 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Moines
2026-04-12T07:28
Arrive Albia
Sun, Apr 12, 8:58 AM CDT
Route Timing
01h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:31 AM to 11:31 AM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
3:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Des Moines
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Knoxville
IA

City in and seat of Marion County, Iowa, United States

From Des Moines
32.7 mi
00h 45m
To Albia
32.7 mi
00h 45m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
72°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 23 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Des Moines and Albia.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Des Moines and Albia.

  1. 1

    Start on East University Avenue

    147 m · 39 sec · East University Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn uturn onto East University Avenue

    530 ft · 18 sec · East University Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

    876 ft · 18 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on East 6th Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · East 6th Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Southeast 6th Street

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Southeast 6th Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Indianola Avenue

    1.1 km · 1 min · Indianola Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn slight right onto Southeast 14th Street

    2.4 mi · 5 min · Southeast 14th Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Southridge Boulevard

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Southridge Boulevard

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right

    1680 ft · 41 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle

    19 mi · 23 min

  12. 12

    Turn left

    10.6 mi · 12 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    2592 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Turn right

    25.1 mi · 37 min

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Benton Avenue East

    109 m · 9 sec · Benton Avenue East

  16. 16

    Turn right onto South 2nd Street

    52 m · 13 sec · South 2nd Street

  17. 17

    Turn left

    10 m · 2 sec

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Des Moines and Albia.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
IA 5 South
19.5 mi · 30%
Southeast 14th Street
2.4 mi · 4%
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
2.18 mi · 3%
Southridge Boulevard
1.87 mi · 3%
Southeast 6th Street
1.83 mi · 3%
East 6th Street
0.85 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

25.1 mi · 00h 37m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 30m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8 mi
57.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Knoxville
00h 45m from Des Moines
Leave By
3:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Des Moines and Rain Showers Likely near Albia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Des Moines to Albia?

The road trip is about 65.5 miles (105.4 km) and usually takes 01h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Knoxville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 32.7 miles from Des Moines and 32.7 miles from Albia.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 57.5 miles (92.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.71 one way or $17.42 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 20.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Des Moines and Rain Showers Likely near Albia.

Stop Ideas Near Knoxville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Knoxville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Knoxville.

RAIL

Osceola

63 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

67 mi away
210 West Main Street
RAIL

Creston

109 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Moines and Albia. Straight-line distance: 57.53 mi (92.59 km).

Des Moines

#1 Des Moines

The capital of Iowa.

Population212,312
Coordinates41.6005400, -93.6091100
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Albia

#2 Albia

City in Iowa

Population3,713
Coordinates41.0266700, -92.8057500
Altitude295
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Moines (-93.60911, 41.60054)
End: Albia (-92.80575, 41.02667)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 105 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 18m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.31 gal
8.75 L · about $8.71
Round trip
$17.42
4.62 gal · 17.5 L
Estimated CO2
20.5 kg one way
Round trip: 41.1 kg / 91 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $8.71 $17.42
Mid-grade $4.25 $9.82 $19.65
Premium $4.65 $10.75 $21.50
Diesel $5.30 $12.25 $24.50

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Moines and Albia. The current time is 07:28:12.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.