How far is Orange City, IA from West Des Moines, IA?

The driving distance from Orange City, IA to West Des Moines, IA is about 213.4 miles (343.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 40m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 155.4 miles (250.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 21m 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
213.46 mi
03h 40m
Flight
155.4 mi
250.09 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Orange City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
155.4 mi
Kilometers
250.09 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
213.46 mi
Kilometers
343.53 km
Drive Time
03h 40m

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 40m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Des Moines
Mon, May 25, 11:49 AM CDT
Return by in Orange City
Mon, May 25, 3:30 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Orange City
2026-05-25T08:08
Arrive West Des Moines
Mon, May 25, 11:49 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 40m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:41 AM to 11:41 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
9:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Orange City
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
Missouri Valley
IA

City in Harrison County, Iowa

From Orange City
118.3 mi
01h 50m
To West Des Moines
95.2 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
87°F
Memorial Day

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
84°F
Memorial Day

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Mon, May 25 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 2nd Street Northwest

    131 m · 25 sec · 2nd Street Northwest

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Albany Avenue

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Albany Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Albany Place

    2626 ft · 54 sec · Albany Place

  4. 4

    Continue on County Road K64

    3.7 mi · 5 min · County Road K64

  5. 5

    Turn right

    10.4 mi · 12 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    30.1 mi · 36 min

  7. 7

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

    1754 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

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

    73.3 mi · 1 hr 19 min

  9. 9

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

    1.2 km · 2 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    16 mi · 17 min

  11. 11

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

    1.1 km · 44 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight right

    94.9 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on John MacVicar Freeway

    3.3 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway

  14. 14

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

    2657 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 8th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 8th Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Vine Street

    143 m · 13 sec · Vine Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vine Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Orange City 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
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 East
95.6 mi · 45%
I 29 South
73.3 mi · 34%
County Road K64
33.8 mi · 16%
I 880 East
16.8 mi · 8%
John MacVicar Freeway
3.32 mi · 2%
Albany Avenue
1.23 mi · 1%
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
03h 40m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+58 mi
155.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Missouri Valley
01h 50m from Orange City
Leave By
9:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Orange City and Slight Chance Rain Showers then 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 Orange City to West Des Moines?

The road trip is about 213.4 miles (343.5 km) and usually takes 03h 40m 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?

Missouri Valley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 118.3 miles from Orange City and 95.2 miles from West Des Moines.

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

The direct path is about 155.4 miles (250.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 58 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 9:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.40 one way or $56.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Orange City and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near West Des Moines.

Stop Ideas Near Missouri Valley

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

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

RAIL

Omaha

34 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Lincoln

107 mi away
201 North 7th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Orange City and West Des Moines. Straight-line distance: 155.4 mi (250.09 km).

Orange City

#1 Orange City

City in Western Iowa

Population6,182
Coordinates43.0072100, -96.0583500
Altitude440
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: 2nd Street Northwest (-96.058351, 43.00718)
End: Vine Street (-93.71133, 41.577301)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 344 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.53 gal
28.51 L · about $28.40
Round trip
$56.79
15.06 gal · 57.02 L
Estimated CO2
66.9 kg one way
Round trip: 133.8 kg / 295 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.40 $56.79
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.03 $64.05
Premium $4.65 $35.04 $70.09
Diesel $5.30 $39.94 $79.88

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 25, 2026

There is no time difference between Orange City and West Des Moines. The current time is 08:08:59.

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.