Des Moines Traffic? (West Des Moines, Ankeny, Denver: military, trip , car rental)

[PamelaAZ]

Hey all,

My husband and I are in the process of moving out of Arizona. We just completed a long road trip from Phoenix to Minneapolis and drove through Des Moines along the way. We liked Des Moines, it seemed like a nice and clean small city. Just out of curiousity, how is traffic in Des Moines? We're used to sitting in standstill rush hour traffic all the time down here in Phoenix: often, my 10 mile commute averages one hour. I'm sure that Des Moines is nothing compared to this, but are there times when the highways get really congested?

Thanks for the advice!

[nsid23]

wow, Phoenix to Des Moines? Depressing. Just kidding, I'm sure you have your reasons. I'm just jealous I don't live there. Anyway, I live in Ankeny (15ish miles north of Des Moines) and I work downtown so I drive M-F in what would be considered the "rush hour" for us. It will take me at most on the worst day 35 minutes, but averaging 20 - 25 I'd say. I've heard the commute is worse coming from West Des Moines though. But it's nothing compared to PHX, I've visited friends there several times and couldn't beleive what I saw and that wasn't even rush hour.
But besides rush hour, traffic is super light everywhere.

[Luke9686]

I am originally from Des Moines but live in San Jose, California now. Des Moines has light traffic, even during rush hour. Plus they are widening the freeway so that will make it even easier. Coming from Arizona, you will laugh at Des Moines traffic, which is a good thing.

I experience the same thing as you, about an hour to go 10 miles or so.

[Ricky1258]

Luke,

I went the reverse of you. Moved in this year from San Francisco, California to West Des Moines. Cut down my commute from 4 hours to 30 minutes. That gave me back 31.25 (24 hours day) days to be with my family.

If I miss the heat in the winter, I can be playing golf in less than 2 1/2 hours!!

5 minutes from house to airport.
30 minutes to get thru security and check golf bag.
70 minutes flight
30 minutes to get checked luggage and car rental
15 minutes to golf club

[Luke9686]

Ricky,

What do you think of Des Moines so far??

Honestly the only reason I'm in the Bay Area is because the military sent me here. There are parts of it I enjoy, and parts I can't stand.

I will be out of here in January, and probably move to Denver.

Glad to here you got all that time back with your family. You will have enough money to do lots of things now that you don't have to put up with the S.F. prices.

5 minutes to the airport means you must live on the south side. Where abouts??