How far is Sheldon, IA from West Des Moines, IA?
Fastest route
The distance between Sheldon, Iowa (ZIP code: 51201) and West Des Moines, Iowa is approximately 209 miles (336 kilometers). The estimated travel time is around 3 hours and 48 minutes. Below are some tips and directions for the journey.
Tips & Suggestions
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🚗 Plan for regular breaks during the long drive to avoid fatigue. Take short stops at rest areas or scenic spots along the way.
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🍔 Pack some snacks and drinks for the trip to keep yourself energized and hydrated, especially if there are limited dining options on the route.
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🛣️ Check the weather forecast and road conditions before starting your journey. Be prepared for any adverse weather conditions that might affect your travel.
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⛽ Ensure your vehicle is in good condition before embarking on the trip. Check the tires, brakes, and fluid levels to avoid any breakdowns on the road.
Directions
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Head east on W 9th St toward S 2nd Ave. (🧭 Go east on W 9th St)
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Turn right at the 1st cross street onto IA-60 Business/S 2nd Ave. (🧭 Turn right onto IA-60 Business/S 2nd Ave)
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Continue onto McKinley Ave. (🧭 Keep following McKinley Ave)
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Turn right onto Nettle Ave. (🧭 Turn right onto Nettle Ave)
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Continue straight onto IA-143 S. (🧭 Continue straight on IA-143 S)
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IA-143 S turns left and becomes 100th St. (🧭 IA-143 S turns left and becomes 100th St)
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Turn right onto Co Hwy L36. (🧭 Turn right onto Co Hwy L36)
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Follow US-20 E, US-59 S, and IA-141 E to Mills Civic Pkwy in West Des Moines. Take exit 70 from I-35 S. (🧭 Follow US-20 E, US-59 S, and IA-141 E, then take exit 70 from I-35 S)
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Turn left to stay on US-59 S. (🧭 Turn left to stay on US-59 S)
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Continue straight onto 260th St. (🧭 Continue straight on 260th St)
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Continue straight onto US-59 S/260th St. (🧭 Continue straight on US-59 S/260th St)
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Continue to follow US-59 S. (🧭 Continue to follow US-59 S)
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Keep left to stay on IA-141 E. (🧭 Keep left to stay on IA-141 E)
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Use the right 2 lanes to take the Interstate 35 S/I-80 W ramp. (🧭 Use the right 2 lanes to take the I-35 S/I-80 W ramp)
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Keep left at the fork to continue on I-35 S. (🧭 Keep left at the fork to continue on I-35 S)
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Use the 2nd from the right lane to take exit 70 for Mills Civic Parkway. (🧭 Use the 2nd from the right lane to take exit 70 for Mills Civic Parkway)
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Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-35. (🧭 Keep left at the fork, follow signs for I-35)
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Continue on Mills Civic Pkwy to your destination. (🧭 Continue on Mills Civic Pkwy to your destination)
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Use any lane to turn slightly left onto Mills Civic Pkwy. (🧭 Use any lane to turn slightly left onto Mills Civic Pkwy)
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Turn right at Waterford Dr. (🧭 Turn right at Waterford Dr)
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 48m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Human settlement in Calhoun County, Iowa, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Sunny
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sheldon and West Des Moines.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sheldon and West Des Moines.
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1
Start on 9th Street
8 m · 6 sec · 9th Street
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2
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
1.4 mi · 3 min · 2nd Avenue
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3
Take the ramp right
7.5 mi · 9 min
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4
Turn left onto Log Avenue
5.6 mi · 8 min · Log Avenue
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5
Turn left onto 460th Street
1.6 km · 1 min · 460th Street
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6
Continue on Garfield Street
2590 ft · 1 min · Garfield Street
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7
Continue on 460th Street
3.5 mi · 5 min · 460th Street
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8
Turn right onto Nettle Avenue
5 mi · 7 min · Nettle Avenue
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9
Continue on D Avenue
5.7 mi · 8 min · D Avenue
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10
Continue on Ames Avenue
1.3 mi · 2 min · Ames Avenue
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11
Turn left onto 490th Street
5 mi · 7 min · 490th Street
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12
Continue on State Highway 3
4.2 mi · 6 min · State Highway 3
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13
Continue on 500th Street
2.5 mi · 3 min · 500th Street
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14
Turn straight onto State Highway 3
4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 3
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15
Turn left onto 530th Street
3.4 mi · 5 min · 530th Street
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16
Turn right onto V Avenue
2 mi · 3 min · V Avenue
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17
Continue on 1st Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · 1st Street
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18
Continue on State Highway 7
2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 7
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19
Continue on Highway 7
1.1 mi · 2 min · Highway 7
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20
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi · 13 min · 20th Avenue
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21
Continue on Armstrong Avenue
6 mi · 8 min · Armstrong Avenue
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22
At the end of the road, turn left onto 220th Street
60.9 mi · 1 hr 10 min · 220th Street
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23
Take the exit slight right toward US 169
1966 ft · 55 sec
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24
Turn right onto Lainson Avenue
12.2 mi · 17 min · Lainson Avenue
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25
Turn left onto 360th Street
4 mi · 6 min · 360th Street
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26
Turn right onto Paragon Avenue
4 mi · 5 min · Paragon Avenue
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27
Continue on D Avenue
12.1 mi · 17 min · D Avenue
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28
Turn left onto 220th Street
3 mi · 4 min · 220th Street
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29
Turn right onto G Avenue
9.7 mi · 13 min · G Avenue
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30
Turn left onto 320th Street
1 mi · 1 min · 320th Street
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31
Turn right onto H Avenue
2 mi · 3 min · H Avenue
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32
Continue on N Avenue
1.9 mi · 3 min · N Avenue
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33
Take the exit left toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
1677 ft · 46 sec
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34
Continue on Northwest Granger Drive
15.6 mi · 19 min · Northwest Granger Drive
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35
Continue on Northwest 114th Street
2.6 mi · 3 min · Northwest 114th Street
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36
Continue on Northeast Grimes Boulevard
1.6 km · 1 min · Northeast Grimes Boulevard
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37
Continue on Grimes Boulevard
3087 ft · 50 sec · Grimes Boulevard
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38
Continue on Southeast Grimes Boulevard
1.8 mi · 3 min · Southeast Grimes Boulevard
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39
Take the exit slight right toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
1.1 km · 1 min
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40
Merge slight left
3.3 mi · 4 min
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41
Keep slight left
2012 ft · 26 sec
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42
Take the exit slight right toward I 235 East: West Des Moines, Des Moines
2327 ft · 57 sec · Ramp 72 I
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43
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
2.8 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway
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44
Take the exit slight right toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
2657 ft · 1 min
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45
Turn right onto 8th Street
1 mi · 2 min · 8th Street
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46
Turn left onto Vine Street
143 m · 13 sec · Vine Street
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47
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Vine Street
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sheldon and West Des Moines.
Interchange-aware route
The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.
220th Street
At the end of the road, turn left onto 220th Street
60.9 mi · 01h 10m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Mostly Sunny leaving Sheldon 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 Sheldon to West Des Moines?
The road trip is about 215.6 miles (347 km) and usually takes 03h 48m 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?
Jolley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 107.4 miles from Sheldon and 108.2 miles from West Des Moines.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 155.8 miles (250.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 59.8 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 9:24 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.70 one way or $57.39 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Sheldon and Sunny near West Des Moines.
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sheldon and West Des Moines. Straight-line distance: 155.76 mi (250.67 km).
#1 Sheldon
City in Iowa, United States
| Population | 5,071 |
| Coordinates | 43.1810900, -95.8561300 |
| Altitude | 435 |
| Country | United States |
#2 West Des Moines
The most populous city in Dallas County, Iowa.
| Population | 69,057 |
| Coordinates | 41.5772100, -93.7113300 |
| Altitude | 252 |
| Country | United States |
End: Vine Street (-93.71133, 41.577301)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 347 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 11m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 23m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 18m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 35m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 04m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 41m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $28.70 | $57.39 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $32.37 | $64.73 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $35.42 | $70.83 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $40.36 | $80.73 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.