How far is George, IA from West Des Moines, IA?

The driving distance from George, IA to West Des Moines, IA is about 231.9 miles (373.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 05m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.9 miles (271.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 11m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
231.93 mi
04h 05m
Flight
168.91 mi
271.84 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from George.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.91 mi
Kilometers
271.84 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
231.93 mi
Kilometers
373.25 km
Drive Time
04h 05m

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 04h 05m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Des Moines
Tue, May 12, 10:36 PM CDT
Return by in George
Wed, May 13, 2:41 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave George
2026-05-12T18:30
Arrive West Des Moines
Tue, May 12, 10:36 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 05m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:06 AM to 12:06 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in George
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

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
Mondamin
IA

Human settlement in Harrison County, Iowa, United States of America

From George
131.4 mi
02h 02m
To West Des Moines
100.5 mi
02h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
58°F
Overnight

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 12 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph SSW
Destination
82°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 to 21 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between George and West Des Moines.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Street

    115 m · 17 sec · North Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue

    1375 ft · 1 min · East Boiler Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn right onto South Virginia Street

    1 km · 1 min · South Virginia Street

  4. 4

    Continue on L14

    5.7 mi · 8 min · L14

  5. 5

    Continue on Kennedy Avenue

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Kennedy Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Colfax Street

    2636 ft · 2 min · Colfax Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto 320th Street

    3 mi · 4 min · 320th Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Jackson Avenue

    8 mi · 11 min · Jackson Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on County Road K64

    3.7 mi · 5 min · County Road K64

  10. 10

    Continue on Albany Avenue

    1.9 mi · 5 min · Albany Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Albany Place

    2626 ft · 54 sec · Albany Place

  12. 12

    Continue on County Road K64

    3.7 mi · 5 min · County Road K64

  13. 13

    Turn right

    10.4 mi · 12 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    30.1 mi · 36 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs

    1754 ft · 23 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport

    73.3 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines

    1.2 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    16 mi · 17 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines

    1.1 km · 44 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight right

    94.9 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on John MacVicar Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines

    2657 ft · 1 min

  23. 23

    Turn right onto 8th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 8th Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Vine Street

    143 m · 13 sec · Vine Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vine Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
95.6 mi · 41%
I 29 South
73.3 mi · 32%
County Road K64
37.5 mi · 16%
I 880 East
16.8 mi · 7%
Jackson Avenue
8.01 mi · 3%
L14
5.72 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight right

94.9 mi · 01h 42m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 05m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63 mi
168.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mondamin
02h 02m from George
Leave By
8:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving George and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near West Des Moines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from George to West Des Moines?

The road trip is about 231.9 miles (373.2 km) and usually takes 04h 05m in normal driving conditions.

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

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mondamin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 131.4 miles from George and 100.5 miles from West Des Moines.

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

The direct path is about 168.9 miles (271.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 63 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.85 one way or $61.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 72.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around George and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near West Des Moines.

Stop Ideas Near Mondamin

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

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

RAIL

Omaha

52 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Lincoln

115 mi away
201 North 7th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between George and West Des Moines. Straight-line distance: 168.91 mi (271.84 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 George

City in Iowa, USA

Population1,029
Coordinates43.3438600, -96.0022400
Altitude421
CountryUnited States
West Des Moines

#2 West Des Moines

The most populous city in Dallas County, Iowa.

Population69,057
Coordinates41.5772100, -93.7113300
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Start: North Main Street (-96.002352, 43.34386)
End: Vine Street (-93.71133, 41.577301)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 373 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 51m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.18 gal
30.98 L · about $30.85
Round trip
$61.69
16.36 gal · 61.96 L
Estimated CO2
72.7 kg one way
Round trip: 145.4 kg / 321 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $30.85 $61.69
Mid-grade $4.25 $34.79 $69.58
Premium $4.65 $38.07 $76.14
Diesel $5.30 $43.39 $86.77

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between George and West Des Moines. The current time is 18:30:33.

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.