Des Moines to Louisville: Road Trip Guide & Distance

476 miles 766 km · straight line
589.9 miles actual route 949.4 km · driving distance
10h 45min estimated drive time
$57 - $70 estimated fuel cost
~1h 27min flight time
116° ESE bearing direction

How far is Des Moines from Louisville?

The distance from Des Moines to Louisville is 476 miles (766 km) as the crow flies. Louisville is located ESE of Des Moines. By car, the driving distance is approximately 589.9 miles, taking about 10h 45min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 27min. Both are located in United States — Des Moines in Iowa and Louisville in Kentucky.

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 Des Moines and Louisville. The driving distance uses an OSRM road-route result when route data is available. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Des Moines to Louisville

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 10h 45min $57 - $70 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 27min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~12h 54min $47–$88* Budget
Train ~10h 13min $71–$206* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Des Moines & Louisville

Quick Facts

Des Moines
41.59°N, 93.63°W
America/Chicago
291m elevation
Louisville
38.25°N, 85.76°W
America/New_York
142m elevation
Explore more routes from Louisville

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 159 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 40 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 52.3 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · OSRM