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

The driving distance from Postville, IA to West Des Moines, IA is about 195.8 miles (315.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 26m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 151.1 miles (243.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 53m 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
195.82 mi
03h 26m
Flight
151.09 mi
243.16 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Postville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
151.09 mi
Kilometers
243.16 km
Flight Time
00h 18m

Driving Distance

Road route
195.82 mi
Kilometers
315.14 km
Drive Time
03h 26m

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 26m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Des Moines
Sun, May 31, 7:32 AM CDT
Return by in Postville
Sun, May 31, 10:59 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Postville
2026-05-31T04:06
Arrive West Des Moines
Sun, May 31, 7:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 26m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:27 AM to 11:27 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
10:06 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Postville
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
Lincoln
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Postville
96 mi
01h 43m
To West Des Moines
99.9 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Sunday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 mph SE
Destination
80°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 mph ESE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on North Lawler Street

    12 m · 3 sec · North Lawler Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West Tilden Street

    7.8 mi · 11 min · West Tilden Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Mill Street

    9.1 mi · 13 min · Mill Street

  4. 4

    Continue on East Bradford Street

    1.3 mi · 2 min · East Bradford Street

  5. 5

    Continue on 230th Street

    13 mi · 18 min · 230th Street

  6. 6

    Continue on 270th Street

    5.5 mi · 8 min · 270th Street

  7. 7

    Continue on East Main Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · East Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on 270th Street

    5.6 mi · 8 min · 270th Street

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left

    2080 ft · 57 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto McCloud Avenue

    22.4 mi · 26 min · McCloud Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Logan Avenue

    6.9 mi · 9 min · Logan Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn right onto West Airline Highway

    3 mi · 5 min · West Airline Highway

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Airport Boulevard

    786 ft · 21 sec · Airport Boulevard

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward US 218 north

    2788 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway

    3116 ft · 41 sec · Leo P Rooff Expressway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right

    1309 ft · 32 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI

    1 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Avenue of the Saints

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward University Avenue

    1165 ft · 28 sec

  20. 20

    Keep slight right

    102 m · 8 sec

  21. 21

    Turn straight onto University Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · University Avenue

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue

    38 m · 3 sec · University Avenue

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · University Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on Grundy Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Grundy Road

  25. 25

    Take the ramp right

    2235 ft · 54 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 13 min

  27. 27

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

    2083 ft · 59 sec

  28. 28

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  30. 30

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  31. 31

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  35. 35

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  36. 36

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  37. 37

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  38. 38

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

    4.5 mi · 6 min

  39. 39

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

    1 km · 1 min

  40. 40

    Continue on John MacVicar Freeway

    9.4 mi · 12 min · John MacVicar Freeway

  41. 41

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

    1348 ft · 35 sec

  42. 42

    Turn left onto 63rd Street

    1.1 mi · 3 min · 63rd Street

  43. 43

    Turn right onto Vine Street

    2147 ft · 59 sec · Vine Street

  44. 44

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vine Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Postville 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
44 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
4 merges, 11 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
McCloud Avenue
22.4 mi · 11%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 8%
230th Street
13 mi · 7%
Grundy Road
12.5 mi · 6%
270th Street
11.5 mi · 6%
John MacVicar Freeway
9.38 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn right

35.9 mi · 00h 43m

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 26m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.7 mi
151.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lincoln
01h 43m from Postville
Leave By
10:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Postville 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 Postville to West Des Moines?

The road trip is about 195.8 miles (315.1 km) and usually takes 03h 26m 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?

Lincoln is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96 miles from Postville and 99.9 miles from West Des Moines.

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

The direct path is about 151.1 miles (243.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.7 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 10:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.06 one way or $52.12 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Postville and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near West Des Moines.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Postville and West Des Moines. Straight-line distance: 151.09 mi (243.16 km).

Postville

#1 Postville

City in Iowa, United States of America

Population2,033
Coordinates43.0847000, -91.5682000
Altitude360
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 Lawler Street (-91.568341, 43.084695)
End: Vine Street (-93.71133, 41.577301)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 315 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 54m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 47m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.91 gal
26.16 L · about $26.06
Round trip
$52.12
13.82 gal · 52.32 L
Estimated CO2
61.4 kg one way
Round trip: 122.8 kg / 271 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.06 $52.12
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.39 $58.78
Premium $4.65 $32.16 $64.32
Diesel $5.30 $36.65 $73.30

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Postville and West Des Moines. The current time is 04:06:08.

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.