Des Moines to Jersey City: Road Trip Guide & Distance

How far is Des Moines from Jersey City?

The distance from Des Moines to Jersey City is 1018.3 miles (1638.8 km) as the crow flies. Jersey City is located E of Des Moines. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1222 miles, taking about 24h 35min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 33min. Both are located in United States — Des Moines in Iowa and Jersey City in New Jersey.

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. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. 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 Des Moines and Jersey City. 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.