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

The driving distance from Slater, IA to West Des Moines, IA is about 33.3 miles (53.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.8 miles (33.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 10m 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
33.31 mi
00h 35m
Flight
20.83 mi
33.53 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Slater.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.83 mi
Kilometers
33.53 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
33.31 mi
Kilometers
53.6 km
Drive Time
00h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in West Des Moines
Sun, Apr 19, 12:09 AM CDT
Return by in Slater
Sun, Apr 19, 12:45 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Slater
2026-04-18T23:34
Arrive West Des Moines
Sun, Apr 19, 12:09 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:35 AM to 7:35 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:20 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Slater
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
Saylorville
IA

City in Polk County, Iowa, United States of America

From Slater
11.9 mi
00h 17m
To West Des Moines
21.4 mi
00h 17m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 to 20 mph NW
Destination
50°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Linn Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · South Linn Street

  2. 2

    Continue on 510th Avenue

    1661 ft · 33 sec · 510th Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Northwest 44th Street

    8 mi · 11 min · Northwest 44th Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Northwest Polk City Drive

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Northwest Polk City Drive

  5. 5

    Continue on Northwest 35th Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Northwest 35th Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Northwest 84th Avenue

    1616 ft · 35 sec · Northwest 84th Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on Northwest 37th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Northwest 37th Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Northwest Fisher Lane

    116 m · 8 sec · Northwest Fisher Lane

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Northwest Toni Drive

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Northwest Toni Drive

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Northwest 66th Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · Northwest 66th Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Northwest Beaver Drive

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Northwest Beaver Drive

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Northwest Johnston Drive

    1.1 km · 1 min · Northwest Johnston Drive

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Merle Hay Road

    3 mi · 6 min · Merle Hay Road

  14. 14

    Continue on Merklin Way

    1978 ft · 43 sec · Merklin Way

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 55th Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · 55th Street

  16. 16

    Continue on 56th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · 56th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    2630 ft · 54 sec · Grand Avenue

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 63rd Street;1st Street

    2018 ft · 54 sec · 63rd Street;1st Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Vine Street

    2147 ft · 59 sec · Vine Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Vine Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Slater and West 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
20 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
60.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Northwest 44th Street
7.98 mi · 24%
Merle Hay Road
2.95 mi · 9%
Northwest Polk City Drive
1.83 mi · 5%
Northwest Beaver Drive
1.63 mi · 5%
56th Street
1.14 mi · 3%
Northwest 37th Street
1.12 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Northwest 44th Street

Continue on Northwest 44th Street

7.98 mi · 00h 11m

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 35m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
01h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.5 mi
20.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saylorville
00h 17m from Slater
Leave By
7:20 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Slater and Chance Rain Showers near West Des Moines.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 33.3 miles (53.6 km) and usually takes 00h 35m 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?

Saylorville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 11.9 miles from Slater and 21.4 miles from West Des Moines.

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

The direct path is about 20.8 miles (33.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.5 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 7:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $4.45 one way or $8.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 10.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Saylorville

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

72 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

92 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Slater and West Des Moines. Straight-line distance: 20.83 mi (33.53 km).

Slater

#1 Slater

City in Story County, Iowa, United States

Population1,471
Coordinates41.8777600, -93.6785500
Altitude316
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: South Linn Street (-93.678454, 41.877761)
End: Vine Street (-93.71133, 41.577301)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 54 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 28m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 24m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.18 gal
4.45 L · about $4.45
Round trip
$8.90
2.36 gal · 8.9 L
Estimated CO2
10.5 kg one way
Round trip: 21 kg / 46 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $4.45 $8.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $5.02 $10.04
Premium $4.65 $5.49 $10.98
Diesel $5.30 $6.26 $12.52

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 Slater and West Des Moines. The current time is 23:34:45.

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.