Des Moines to Santa Fe: Road Trip Guide & Distance

778.5 miles 1252.8 km · straight line
934.2 miles estimated 1503.4 km · driving distance
18h 48min estimated drive time
$90 - $111 estimated fuel cost
~2h 4min flight time
242° WSW bearing direction

How far is Des Moines from Santa Fe?

The distance from Des Moines to Santa Fe is 778.5 miles (1252.8 km) as the crow flies. Santa Fe is located WSW of Des Moines. By car, the driving distance is approximately 934.2 miles, taking about 18h 48min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 4min. Both are located in United States — Des Moines in Iowa and Santa Fe in New Mexico.

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 Des Moines and Santa Fe. 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.

How to Get from Des Moines to Santa Fe

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 18h 48min $90 - $111 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 4min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~22h 34min $75–$140* Budget
Train ~24h 26min $112–$327* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Des Moines & Santa Fe

Quick Facts

Des Moines
41.59°N, 93.63°W
America/Chicago
291m elevation
Santa Fe
35.69°N, 105.94°W
America/Denver
2134m elevation
Explore more routes from Santa Fe

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 260 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 65 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 32 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients