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

The driving distance from Huxley, IA to Des Moines, IA is about 23.7 miles (38.1 km), with a travel time of about 00h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.4 miles (32.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 49m 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
23.69 mi
00h 24m
Flight
20.37 mi
32.78 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Huxley.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.37 mi
Kilometers
32.78 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
23.69 mi
Kilometers
38.12 km
Drive Time
00h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Des Moines
Wed, Apr 22, 8:44 PM CDT
Return by in Huxley
Wed, Apr 22, 9:09 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Huxley
2026-04-22T20:19
Arrive Des Moines
Wed, Apr 22, 8:44 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:25 AM to 7:25 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Huxley
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
Ankeny
IA

The most populous city in Polk County, Iowa.

From Huxley
11.8 mi
00h 12m
To Des Moines
11.9 mi
00h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 17 mph S
Destination
81°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 13 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    19 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    1.3 km · 1 min

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route

    45 m · 2 sec

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout

    1981 ft · 38 sec

  5. 5

    Turn left onto State Highway 210

    1.4 mi · 2 min · State Highway 210

  6. 6

    Take the ramp right toward I-35 south: Des Moines

    1670 ft · 41 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    14.9 mi · 17 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 235 West: Des Moines

    1.4 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Continue on John MacVicar Freeway

    4 mi · 5 min · John MacVicar Freeway

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward East 6th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, East Village

    1580 ft · 39 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on East Village, East 6th Street, Penn Avenue

    1740 ft · 45 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

    1647 ft · 35 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto East University Avenue

    30 m · 9 sec · East University Avenue

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East University Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
59.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-35 south
15.2 mi · 64%
John MacVicar Freeway
4.01 mi · 17%
State Highway 210
1.4 mi · 6%
I 235 West
0.87 mi · 4%
East Village
0.33 mi · 1%
Pennsylvania Avenue
0.31 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I-35 south

Merge slight left

14.9 mi · 00h 17m

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 24m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+3.3 mi
20.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ankeny
00h 12m from Huxley
Leave By
7:40 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Huxley and Sunny near Des Moines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 23.7 miles (38.1 km) and usually takes 00h 24m 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?

Ankeny is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.8 miles from Huxley and 11.9 miles from Des Moines.

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

The direct path is about 20.4 miles (32.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 3.3 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 7:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $3.13 one way or $6.26 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 7.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Ankeny

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

78 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

98 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Huxley and Des Moines. Straight-line distance: 20.37 mi (32.78 km).

Huxley

#1 Huxley

City in Story County, Iowa, United States

Population4,270
Coordinates41.8952700, -93.6007700
Altitude312
CountryUnited States
Des Moines

#2 Des Moines

The capital of Iowa.

Population212,312
Coordinates41.6005400, -93.6091100
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Start: (-93.60077, 41.895235)
End: East University Avenue (-93.609114, 41.600425)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 38 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 17m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.83 gal
3.16 L · about $3.13
Round trip
$6.26
1.66 gal · 6.32 L
Estimated CO2
7.4 kg one way
Round trip: 14.8 kg / 33 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $3.13 $6.26
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.53 $7.06
Premium $4.65 $3.86 $7.73
Diesel $5.30 $4.40 $8.80

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Huxley and Des Moines. The current time is 20:19:36.

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.