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

The driving distance from Guttenberg, IA to West Des Moines, IA is about 203.4 miles (327.3 km), with a travel time of about 03h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 157.6 miles (253.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 59m 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
203.38 mi
03h 29m
Flight
157.64 mi
253.7 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Guttenberg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
157.64 mi
Kilometers
253.7 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
203.38 mi
Kilometers
327.31 km
Drive Time
03h 29m

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 03h 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Des Moines
Sun, Apr 19, 11:15 AM CDT
Return by in Guttenberg
Sun, Apr 19, 2:45 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Guttenberg
2026-04-19T07:45
Arrive West Des Moines
Sun, Apr 19, 11:15 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:00 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Guttenberg
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Dike
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Guttenberg
101.3 mi
01h 44m
To West Des Moines
102.1 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
51°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph NW
Destination
58°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 10 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    24 m · 8 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Main Street

    539 ft · 20 sec · Main Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto South 5th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · South 5th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Great River Road

    12.4 mi · 17 min · Great River Road

  5. 5

    Continue on US 52

    3.9 mi · 5 min · US 52

  6. 6

    Continue on Columbus Street

    2936 ft · 50 sec · Columbus Street

  7. 7

    Continue on US 52

    3.7 mi · 5 min · US 52

  8. 8

    Continue on 11th Street Northeast

    1.2 km · 1 min · 11th Street Northeast

  9. 9

    Continue on 11th Street Southeast

    969 ft · 16 sec · 11th Street Southeast

  10. 10

    Continue on 9th Street Southeast

    1.2 km · 1 min · 9th Street Southeast

  11. 11

    Take the ramp left

    1311 ft · 32 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    61.4 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints

    23.5 mi · 27 min · Avenue of the Saints

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

    2083 ft · 59 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  17. 17

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  18. 18

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    4.5 mi · 6 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight left toward I 235 West: Des Moines

    1 km · 1 min

  27. 27

    Continue on John MacVicar Freeway

    9.4 mi · 12 min · John MacVicar Freeway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: 63rd Street, Windsor Heights

    1348 ft · 35 sec

  29. 29

    Turn left onto 63rd Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · 63rd Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto Vine Street

    2147 ft · 59 sec · Vine Street

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vine Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
31 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
9th Street Southeast
62.5 mi · 31%
Avenue of the Saints
23.4 mi · 12%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 8%
Great River Road
12.4 mi · 6%
John MacVicar Freeway
9.38 mi · 5%
US 52
7.54 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

9th Street Southeast

Merge slight left

61.4 mi · 01h 11m

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
03h 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.8 mi
157.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dike
01h 44m from Guttenberg
Leave By
10:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Guttenberg and Sunny near West Des Moines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 203.4 miles (327.3 km) and usually takes 03h 29m 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?

Dike is a useful midpoint, sitting about 101.3 miles from Guttenberg and 102.1 miles from West Des Moines.

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

The direct path is about 157.6 miles (253.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.8 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.08 one way or $54.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Guttenberg and Sunny near West Des Moines.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Guttenberg and West Des Moines. Straight-line distance: 157.64 mi (253.7 km).

Guttenberg

#1 Guttenberg

City in Iowa, USA

Population1,783
Coordinates42.7858200, -91.0995700
Altitude191
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: (-91.100022, 42.785686)
End: Vine Street (-93.71133, 41.577301)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 327 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 54m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 32m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.18 gal
27.17 L · about $27.08
Round trip
$54.15
14.36 gal · 54.34 L
Estimated CO2
63.8 kg one way
Round trip: 127.6 kg / 281 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.08 $54.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.54 $61.07
Premium $4.65 $33.42 $66.83
Diesel $5.30 $38.08 $76.17

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Guttenberg and West Des Moines. The current time is 07:45:44.

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.