Driving Time from Kansas City to West Des Moines
Driving from Kansas City to West Des Moines is about 230 mi and takes roughly 4 hr 7 min. See the fuel-cost estimate, distance and route tips.
Kansas City and West Des Moines are about 177 mi (285 km) apart in a straight line. By road that works out to roughly 230 mi (371 km), a drive of about 4 hr 7 min. A nonstop flight covers the great-circle distance in approximately 50 min.
| Straight-line distance | 177 mi / 285 km |
| Road distance (est.) | 230 mi / 371 km |
| Driving time (est.) | 4 hr 7 min |
| Nonstop flight (est.) | 50 min |
| Driving fuel (est., 1-way) | $29 |
| Typical flight fare | $80–$250 |
| Geographic midpoint | 40.339, -94.153 |
How these estimates work
Straight-line distance uses the haversine formula on each city's coordinates. Road distance applies a circuity factor (~1.2–1.4×) and driving time a blended average speed. Flight time uses typical jet cruise speed plus ~30 minutes for taxi, climb and descent. Treat all figures as planning estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Kansas City to West Des Moines is about 177 mi (285 km) in a straight line, and roughly 230 mi (371 km) by road.