The Grimes Brief
One of the big reasons people pick Grimes is that you can live in a newer suburb and still be downtown in about the length of a podcast. Here are the real numbers, and the route behind them.
Grimes to downtown Des Moines is about 16 to 17 miles and roughly 25 minutes by car in light traffic. The route is Grimes Boulevard (Iowa Highway 141) to I-35/80, then I-235 into downtown. There is no bus. Plan for extra time at rush hour.
These are driving estimates from Grimes City Hall (101 NE Harvey St) using OpenStreetMap-based routing, in free-flowing traffic. Your trip from the north or south side of town will differ by a few minutes.
From the center of town, 1st Street (Iowa Highway 44) leads to Grimes Boulevard, which carries Iowa Highway 141 southeast to the I-35/80 interchange. From there it is I-35/80 toward Des Moines, then I-235 (the John MacVicar Freeway) into downtown. The Johnston and Ankeny trips use local roads rather than the interstate.
The time that surprises newcomers is rush hour on the interstates and I-235, not the stretch inside Grimes. Check the Iowa DOT's 511 site (511ia.org) for construction before a morning commute or a game-day trip downtown.
Grimes is a drive-to-work town. DART ended its Grimes service on June 30, 2025, after the city withdrew, so there is no fixed-route bus, park-and-ride, or on-call shuttle here now. Eligible riders can look at HIRTA for paratransit and on-demand rides, and Uber and Lyft operate across the metro. Details are on our transit page.
A downtown Des Moines evening is a half-hour trip each way, so most people plan it the way they would a small road trip: one stop, dinner, and home. Closer metro hubs are much quicker, with Johnston about 12 minutes and the Jordan Creek area about 20. For ideas on where to go, see our day trips from Des Moines and night out guides, and the cost of living page if you are weighing the commute against housing costs.
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Grimes is about 16 to 17 miles from downtown Des Moines by road. The drive takes roughly 25 minutes in light traffic, via Iowa Highway 141 to I-35/80 and then I-235.
About 25 minutes without traffic. Allow more time at rush hour on the interstate and I-235, and check 511ia.org for construction.
About 20 miles, or roughly 30 minutes by car in light traffic, using I-35/80 and I-35 south.
No. DART ended its Grimes service on June 30, 2025, so there is no fixed-route bus or park-and-ride in Grimes. The commute is by car or rideshare, and HIRTA serves eligible paratransit riders.
Take Grimes Boulevard (Iowa Highway 141) to I-35/80, then I-235 into downtown. Check 511ia.org for current construction and delays.
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