Des Moines to Sun Valley: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1060.6 miles 1706.9 km · straight line
1272.8 miles estimated 2048.3 km · driving distance
25h 36min estimated drive time
$122 - $151 estimated fuel cost
~2h 38min flight time
285° WNW bearing direction

How far is Des Moines from Sun Valley?

The distance from Des Moines to Sun Valley is 1060.6 miles (1706.9 km) as the crow flies. Sun Valley is located WNW of Des Moines. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1272.8 miles, taking about 25h 36min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 38min. Both are located in United States — Des Moines in Iowa and Sun Valley in Idaho.

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 Sun Valley. 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 Sun Valley

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 25h 36min $122 - $151 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 38min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~30h 43min $102–$191* Budget
Train ~33h 17min $153–$445* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Des Moines & Sun Valley

Quick Facts

Des Moines
41.59°N, 93.63°W
America/Chicago
291m elevation
Sun Valley
43.70°N, 114.35°W
America/Boise
1752m elevation
Explore more routes from Sun Valley

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 354 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 88 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 23.5 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients