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

The driving distance from West Des Moines, IA to Norwalk, IA is about 8.1 miles (13 km), with a travel time of about 00h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 7.2 miles (11.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 27m 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
8.08 mi
00h 13m
Flight
7.22 mi
11.62 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Des Moines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
7.22 mi
Kilometers
11.62 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
8.08 mi
Kilometers
13.01 km
Drive Time
00h 13m

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 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Norwalk
Sat, Apr 18, 6:06 AM CDT
Return by in West Des Moines
Sat, Apr 18, 6:20 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Des Moines
2026-04-18T05:52
Arrive Norwalk
Sat, Apr 18, 6:06 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:14 AM to 7:14 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:02 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in West Des Moines
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
Cumming
IA

Human settlement in Warren County, Iowa, United States of America

From West Des Moines
4 mi
00h 06m
To Norwalk
4 mi
00h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
50°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers

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

Chance Rain Showers

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Vine Street

    2147 ft · 1 min · Vine Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street

  3. 3

    Continue on State Highway 28

    4.5 mi · 7 min · State Highway 28

  4. 4

    Continue on Sunset Drive

    2263 ft · 1 min · Sunset Drive

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Main Street

    1252 ft · 55 sec · Main Street

  6. 6

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

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
6 steps
2 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
74.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 28
4.53 mi · 56%
Southwest 63rd Street
1.24 mi · 15%
1st Street
1.24 mi · 15%
Sunset Drive
0.43 mi · 5%
Vine Street
0.41 mi · 5%
Main Street
0.24 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 28

Continue on State Highway 28

4.53 mi · 00h 07m

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 13m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+0.9 mi
7.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cumming
00h 06m from West Des Moines
Leave By
8:02 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving West Des Moines and Chance Rain Showers near Norwalk.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 8.1 miles (13 km) and usually takes 00h 13m 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?

Cumming is a useful midpoint, sitting about 4 miles from West Des Moines and 4 miles from Norwalk.

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

The direct path is about 7.2 miles (11.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.9 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 8:02 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $1.09 one way or $2.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 2.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around West Des Moines and Chance Rain Showers near Norwalk.

Stop Ideas Near Cumming

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

50 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

69 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Des Moines and Norwalk. Straight-line distance: 7.22 mi (11.62 km).

West Des Moines

#1 West Des Moines

The most populous city in Dallas County, Iowa.

Population69,057
Coordinates41.5772100, -93.7113300
Altitude252
CountryUnited States
Norwalk

#2 Norwalk

City in Warren County and Polk County, Iowa, United States

Population12,449
Coordinates41.4755500, -93.6788300
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Start: West Des Moines (-93.71133, 41.57721)
End: Norwalk (-93.67883, 41.47555)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 13 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 08m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.29 gal
1.08 L · about $1.09
Round trip
$2.19
0.58 gal · 2.16 L
Estimated CO2
2.6 kg one way
Round trip: 5.2 kg / 11 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $1.09 $2.19
Mid-grade $4.25 $1.23 $2.47
Premium $4.65 $1.35 $2.70
Diesel $5.30 $1.54 $3.08

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between West Des Moines and Norwalk. The current time is 05:52:15.

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.