Badlands to Des Moines: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Badlands from Des Moines?

The distance from Badlands to Des Moines is 469 miles (754.8 km) as the crow flies. Des Moines is located ESE of Badlands. By car, the driving distance is approximately 562.8 miles, taking about 11h 19min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 27min. Both are located in United States — Badlands in South Dakota and Des Moines in Iowa.

This is a solid day of driving. Be sure to take breaks every 2-3 hours to avoid driver fatigue, and plan your meals ahead of time. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility.

Coordinates come from public place data for Badlands 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.