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

The driving distance from West Des Moines, IA to Urbandale, IA is about 3.9 miles (6.3 km), with a travel time of about 00h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 3.4 miles (5.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 22m 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
3.89 mi
00h 11m
Flight
3.42 mi
5.5 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Des Moines.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
3.42 mi
Kilometers
5.5 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
3.89 mi
Kilometers
6.26 km
Drive Time
00h 11m

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 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Urbandale
Wed, Apr 22, 7:10 PM CDT
Return by in West Des Moines
Wed, Apr 22, 7:21 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Des Moines
2026-04-22T18:58
Arrive Urbandale
Wed, Apr 22, 7:10 PM CDT
Route Timing
00h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:11 AM to 7:11 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:08 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Clive
IA

Human settlement in Iowa, United States of America

From West Des Moines
1.9 mi
00h 05m
To Urbandale
1.9 mi
00h 05m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 15 mph S
Destination
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Vine Street

    143 m · 15 sec · Vine Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 8th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 8th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on 73rd Street

    1.9 mi · 3 min · 73rd Street

  4. 4

    Continue on 72nd Street

    3073 ft · 1 min · 72nd Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Roseland Drive

    1302 ft · 1 min · Roseland Drive

  6. 6

    Turn left onto 70th Street

    106 m · 11 sec · 70th Street

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Maryland Drive

    4 m · 1 sec · Maryland Drive

  8. 8

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Maryland Drive

Car Route Details

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

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
8 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
205.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
73rd Street
1.89 mi · 49%
8th Street
1.01 mi · 26%
72nd Street
0.58 mi · 15%
Roseland Drive
0.25 mi · 6%
Vine Street
0.09 mi · 2%
70th Street
0.07 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

73rd Street

Continue on 73rd Street

1.89 mi · 00h 03m

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 11m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+0.5 mi
3.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clive
00h 05m from West Des Moines
Leave By
8:08 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving West Des Moines and Sunny near Urbandale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 3.9 miles (6.3 km) and usually takes 00h 11m 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?

Clive is a useful midpoint, sitting about 1.9 miles from West Des Moines and 1.9 miles from Urbandale.

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

The direct path is about 3.4 miles (5.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.5 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 8:08 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.53 one way or $1.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 1.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around West Des Moines and Sunny near Urbandale.

Stop Ideas Near Clive

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

63 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

81 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between West Des Moines and Urbandale. Straight-line distance: 3.42 mi (5.5 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
Urbandale

#2 Urbandale

A city in Polk County, Iowa.

Population44,650
Coordinates41.6266600, -93.7121700
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Start: Vine Street (-93.71133, 41.577301)
End: Maryland Drive (-93.71217, 41.626694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 6 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 07m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 03m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.14 gal
0.52 L · about $0.53
Round trip
$1.06
0.28 gal · 1.04 L
Estimated CO2
1.2 kg one way
Round trip: 2.5 kg / 6 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $0.53 $1.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $0.60 $1.19
Premium $4.65 $0.65 $1.30
Diesel $5.30 $0.74 $1.49

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 22, 2026

There is no time difference between West Des Moines and Urbandale. The current time is 18:58:52.

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.