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

The driving distance from Des Moines, IA to Newton, IA is about 34.7 miles (55.9 km), with a travel time of about 00h 44m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 29.8 miles (47.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 28m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
34.71 mi
00h 44m
Flight
29.77 mi
47.91 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Des Moines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
29.77 mi
Kilometers
47.91 km
Flight Time
00h 03m

Driving Distance

Road route
34.71 mi
Kilometers
55.86 km
Drive Time
00h 44m

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 00h 44m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Newton
Sun, Apr 26, 12:32 AM CDT
Return by in Des Moines
Sun, Apr 26, 1:17 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Des Moines
2026-04-25T23:48
Arrive Newton
Sun, Apr 26, 12:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 44m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:44 AM to 7:44 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Des Moines
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Mitchellville
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Des Moines
17.3 mi
00h 22m
To Newton
17.4 mi
00h 22m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph ENE
Destination
69°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East University Avenue

    147 m · 39 sec · East University Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn uturn onto East University Avenue

    2836 ft · 1 min · East University Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East 14th Street

    1908 ft · 58 sec · East 14th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward US 69, East 14th Street, East 15th STreet

    1.3 km · 1 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

    1476 ft · 36 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

    1628 ft · 40 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    26.1 mi · 29 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe

    1479 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Continue on State Highway 14

    2203 ft · 40 sec · State Highway 14

  11. 11

    Turn slight right

    54 m · 7 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto South 12th Avenue West

    2554 ft · 51 sec · South 12th Avenue West

  13. 13

    Continue on West 12th Street South

    894 ft · 18 sec · West 12th Street South

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto South 8th Avenue West

    1.2 km · 1 min · South 8th Avenue West

  15. 15

    Turn left onto 1st Street South

    2523 ft · 1 min · 1st Street South

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 1st Avenue East

    1535 ft · 1 min · 1st Avenue East

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 1st Avenue East

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
17 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
49 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
26.5 mi · 76%
John MacVicar Freeway
3.28 mi · 9%
US 69
0.81 mi · 2%
South 8th Avenue West
0.75 mi · 2%
East University Avenue
0.63 mi · 2%
South 12th Avenue West
0.48 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight left

26.1 mi · 00h 29m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 44m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+4.9 mi
29.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mitchellville
00h 22m from Des Moines
Leave By
7:02 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Des Moines and Mostly Sunny near Newton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 34.7 miles (55.9 km) and usually takes 00h 44m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mitchellville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 17.3 miles from Des Moines and 17.4 miles from Newton.

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

The direct path is about 29.8 miles (47.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 4.9 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.64 one way or $9.28 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Des Moines and Mostly Sunny near Newton.

Stop Ideas Near Mitchellville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Mitchellville, 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 Mitchellville.

RAIL

Osceola

78 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

107 mi away
210 West Main Street
RAIL

Creston

108 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Des Moines and Newton. Straight-line distance: 29.77 mi (47.91 km).

Des Moines

#1 Des Moines

The capital of Iowa.

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

#2 Newton

City in and the county seat of Jasper County, Illinois, United States

Population15,127
Coordinates41.6997100, -93.0479800
Altitude290
CountryUnited States
Start: Des Moines (-93.60911, 41.60054)
End: Newton (-93.04798, 41.69971)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 56 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 25m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.23 gal
4.64 L · about $4.64
Round trip
$9.28
2.46 gal · 9.28 L
Estimated CO2
10.9 kg one way
Round trip: 21.9 kg / 48 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.64 $9.28
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.23 $10.46
Premium $4.65 $5.72 $11.45
Diesel $5.30 $6.52 $13.05

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Des Moines and Newton. The current time is 23:48:35.

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.