Altoona to Des Moines: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Altoona from Des Moines?

The distance from Altoona to Des Moines is 795.9 miles (1280.9 km) as the crow flies. Des Moines is located W of Altoona. By car, the driving distance is approximately 955.1 miles, taking about 19h 13min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 6min. Both are located in United States — Altoona in Pennsylvania and Des Moines in Iowa.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Altoona and Des Moines. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.