Omaha to Des Moines: Distance, drive time & best road trip stops

The best stops on the Omaha to Des Moines drive are the Museum of Danish America, the Jesse James Historic Park and Winterset in Madison County. By car, the distance from Omaha to Des Moines is 134 miles, with a 2h4m driving time.

The Omaha to Des Moines drive takes visitors through flyover country in Nebraska and Iowa, and turns up a few surprisingly interesting attractions along the way.

Top Omaha experiences include electric bike rentals, scavenger hunts and the Henly Doorly Zoo and Aquarium.

Good things to do in Des Moines include the Adventureland Resort theme park, the Science Center of Iowa and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park.

Omaha to Des Moines distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Omaha to Des Moines is 134 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and four minutes. The quickest route is almost entirely along the I-80.

The best stops on the Omaha to Des Moines drive are the Museum of Danish America, the Jesse James Historic Park and Winterset.

Attractions between Omaha and Des Moines: Museum of Danish America

Danish immigrants have made a surprisingly large impact on the US, and that is what the Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn, Iowa, celebrates. The museum covers a surprising range of topics, from Danish-American weddings and art quilts to the Danish-American Mormon movement.

Obviously, this is most likely to be of interest to visitors from Denmark, but it’s the sort of niche museum where you come out having learned a lot.

Omaha to Des Moines drive: Jesse James Historic Park

There’s not an awful lot to the Jesse James Historic Park just to the east of Adair, Iowa. But it’s a short pull-over off the I-80, and the signs tell a good story.

This was where the Jesse James gang pulled off the first ever robbery of a moving train back in 1873. James and the gang thought there was a big shipment of gold on board, but ended up only taking around $3,000.

Omaha to Des Moines road trip stops: Winterset

Winterset, Iowa, is best known as the birthplace of John Wayne. A short detour south of the I-80 will bring you to the John Wayne Birthplace Museum, which celebrates America’s most famous movie cowboy. It is stuffed full of Wayne Memorabilia.

Between the town and the highway, there are a couple of places to try Iowa-made drinks. The Covered Bridges Winery and Winterset Cidery are open to visitors for tastings.

You can also do Bridges of Madison County tours here.