West-Des-Moines
is located in Polk, Dallas and Warren Counties in central Iowa. It is the second-largest city in the Des Moines metropolitan area and the ninth-largest city in the state of Iowa. As of 2005, the population of West Des Moines was 51,744 residents. It was ranked 94th in Money Magazines list of "100 Best Places to Live and Launch" in 2008. The West Des Moines area if filled with a vast array of things to see and do, from outdoor recreation, fine museums, art galleries, theater and performing arts, exciting shopping and five-star restaurants. The city has beautiful parks that include hiking and biking trails, picnic facilities, swimming, tennis courts, golf courses and three family aquatic centers. The Des Moines Art Center is housed in a striking contemporary complex designed by three internationally recognized architects. The museum contains a collection of major 19th, 20th and 21st century masterpieces. The Des Moines Botanical & Environmental Center includes 15,000 exotic plants, along with a gift shop and Riverwalk Cafe. Other attractions include the Blank Park Zoo, the Des Moines Symphony and Ballet Des Moines, the Iowa State Fair, several racetracks, speedway and casinos. A Farmers Market is held in downtown Des Moines every Saturday morning, with fresh produce, home-baked pastries and breads, handmade crafts, music and more. There are so many things to do in West Des Moines, the most difficult choice will be deciding where to go first.
Surrounding areas: Urbandale, Iowa (4.6 mi), Des Moines, Iowa (7.1 mi), Winterset, Iowa (21.2 mi), Ames, Iowa (31.9 mi), Boone, Iowa (33.9 mi), Knoxville, Iowa (38.1 mi)
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West Des Moines Vacation Rentals
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West Des Moines Weather & Climate
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The southern portion of Iowa has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and often humid and winters are cold and snowy. During the six warmer months of the year, the prevailing moist southerly flow from the Gulf of Mexico produces summer rainfall and thunderstorms. These storms are sometimes severe and may produce high winds, hail, torrential rains and occasionally a tornado. Hailstorms are more severe in the northwest portion of the state than in southern Iowa. Seasonal snowfall across the state is 32 inches and the snow season generally runs late October through late March. The most snowfall occurs in January, February and March and blizzards are a possibility. Autumn is often the most pleasant time of the year in Iowa, with mild days and cool nights that produce colorful fall foliage.
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| Month |
High Temp |
Low Temp |
Rainfall |
Ocean Temp |
| January |
29°F |
11°F |
1.03 in. |
- |
| February |
35°F |
17°F |
1.19 in. |
- |
| March |
48°F |
28°F |
2.21 in. |
- |
| April |
61°F |
39°F |
3.58 in. |
- |
| May |
72°F |
51°F |
4.25 in. |
- |
| June |
81°F |
61°F |
4.57 in. |
- |
| July |
86°F |
66°F |
4.18 in. |
- |
| August |
83°F |
63°F |
4.51 in. |
- |
| September |
75°F |
54°F |
3.15 in. |
- |
| October |
63°F |
42°F |
2.62 in. |
- |
| November |
46°F |
29°F |
2.10 in. |
- |
| December |
33°F |
16°F |
1.33 in. |
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West Des Moines Map & Transportation
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| Click each thumbnail image to enlarge. |
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The closest airports in the area are the Des Moines International airport (DSM) located about 5 miles southeast of West Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa, the Ankeny Regional airport (IKV) located approximately 12 miles northeast of West Des Moines in Ankeny, Iowa, the Ames Municipal airport (AMW) located roughly 29 miles north of West Des Moines in Ames, Iowa, the Newton Municipal airport (TNU) located around 38 miles east of West Des Moines in Newton, Iowa, the Arthur N Neu airport (CIN) located about 62 miles northwest of West Des Moines in Carroll, Iowa, the Fort Dodge Regional airport (FOD) located approximately 71 miles northwest of West Des Moines in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and finally the Ottumwa Industrial airport (OTM) located roughly 75 miles southeast of West Des Moines in Ottumwa, Iowa.
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West Des Moines Attractions
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| | | Amusement and Theme Parks |
| Adventureland | Altoona | IA | 15.8 mi. | |
| | | Water Parks |
| White Water University Fun Park | Des Moines | IA | 7.8 mi. | | | The Beach Ottumwa | Ottumwa | IA | 81.8 mi. | | | Denison Aquatic Fun Center | Denison | IA | 88.2 mi. | |
| | | Golf Courses |
| Ponderosa Public Golf Course | West Des Moines | IA | | | | Willow Creek Golf Course | West Des Moines | IA | | | | Beaver Creek Golf Course | Grimes | IA | 7.8 mi. | | | A H Blank Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | 8.2 mi. | | | Grand View Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | 8.2 mi. | | | Legacy Golf Club | Norwalk | IA | 8.2 mi. | | | Sleepy Hollow Sports Park | Des Moines | IA | 8.2 mi. | | | Waveland Municipal Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | 8.2 mi. | | | Woodland Hills Golf Course | Des Moines | IA | 8.2 mi. | | | Rolling Hills Golf Course | Norwalk | IA | 10.0 mi. | | | Copper Creek Golf Course | Pleasant Hill | IA | 12.6 mi. | | | Briarwood Golf Course | Ankeny | IA | 13.0 mi. | | | Otter Creek Golf Course | Ankeny | IA | 13.0 mi. | | | Jester Park Golf Club | Granger | IA | 13.5 mi. | | | River Valley Golf Course | Adel | IA | 13.5 mi. | | | Tournament Club of Iowa | Polk City | IA | 14.0 mi. | | | Terrace Hills Golf Course | Altoona | IA | 15.9 mi. | | | Shady Oaks Golf Course | Ackworth | IA | 20.7 mi. | | | Woodward Golf & Recreation | Woodward | IA | 21.1 mi. | | | Toad Valley Public Golf Course | Runnells | IA | 21.3 mi. | | | Perry Golf & Country Club | Perry | IA | 25.3 mi. | | | Colfax Country Club | Colfax | IA | 27.5 mi. | | | Pleasantville Golf & Country Club | Pleasantville | IA | 28.8 mi. | |
| | | State Parks |
| Walnut Woods State Park | | IA | 2.3 mi. | | | Margo Frankel Woods State Park | | IA | 10.1 mi. | | | Big Creek State Park | | IA | 16.5 mi. | | | Lake Ahquabi State Park | | IA | 21.8 mi. | | | Lake Ahquabi State Park | | IA | 22.1 mi. | | | Pammel State Park | | IA | 25.4 mi. | | | Ledges State Park | | IA | 29.0 mi. | | | Elk Rock State Park | | IA | 37.4 mi. | | | Springbrook State Park | | IA | 38.5 mi. | |
| | | Museums |
| Guthrie County Historical Village | Panora | IA | 32.6 mi. | (History) | | Iowa State University Museums | Ames | IA | 32.8 mi. | (Multidisciplinary) | | Pella Historical Village | Pella | IA | 44.9 mi. | (History) |
| | | Zoos and Aquariums |
| Blank Park Zoo | Des Moines | IA | 7.8 mi. | | | Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo | Omaha | NE | 115.3 mi. | |
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