Des Moines, IA Driving Tips
Not all the streets go through, and many stop and start. Also, the street names change as you drive through each suburb, and the naming is not consistent. For example: University Avenue in West Des Moines is a totally different street than University Avenue in Des Moines; University Avenue in West D
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es Moines is called 100th Street on the opposite side of the road when you reach Clive. So, be sure to check maps and verify which municipality you're going to.
Des Moines, IA Buying Tips
Is the car safe/appropriate for an Iowa winter? For me, that meant anti-lock brakes and a traction control system which were not standard when I bought my car. For a lot of other people, it means getting a 4-wheel drive vehicle that can get through deep snow. Even though this is a city, we still dea
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l with very icy side streets and intersections and a lot of deep snow drifts during the winter.
Favorite Driving Memory
I was driving to a job interview on Grand Avenue. It was an early autumn morning, and the neighborhood was full of mature trees. The bright fall colors against the old historic buildings was very charming. I also enjoyed not being trapped in my office at my regular job and actually being out and abo
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ut on a weekday morning.
Favorite Road
Douglas/Euclid
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It's a good East/West arterial, is close to my home, and is a good alternative to the freeway. The maximum speed limit on this street is 35 MPH, and I appreciate the slower speed during winter driving conditions. I also don't like the stress of the freeway (I-235) and am able to use Douglas/Euclid t
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o get around the city more comfortably.
Des Moines, IA Driving Tips
Use the freeways as they really do not have traffic here and so this is most expeditious. Make sure you know the city you are going to as there are many of the same numbered street addresses and it can be confusing as the cities (ex: DSM and West DSM) are less than 10 miles apart.
Des Moines, IA Buying Tips
Check the undercarriage! There is winter here and they have not fully transitioned off of salting the roads. Make sure your car will clear a slightly steep curb. The dealerships are spread out and foreign models are not as common as American made.
Favorite Driving Memory
Coming home from work and driving just SE of Sherman Hill/edge of down town area and the way the sun was setting with the small hills, the weather and the lighting, feeling as though I was back in Signal Hill, CA. This little are of DSM is neither really developed or too industrial yet the roads jus
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t south of the freeway feel somewhat similar to other places I have lived. This is in contrast to drives I have taken five miles out of DSM where I feel as if I am in a whole new country as it is so un-developed. Due to my job (tutor) and the spread of the population, I need to be comfortable in both city and country driving.
Favorite Road
Hickman Road North through Johnston
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The transition from south of fwy (West DSM) to north of other fwy (Johnston) is this amazing transition including both old and new. On the NW side of the street is an old time ice cream stand and then there are some more architecturally modern buildings. You don't feel as if it is city and then coun
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try, rather there is a transition.
Des Moines, IA Driving Tips
It's not as bad as some cities but the people are assholes, prepare to be in the lane you need to be in well in advanced.
Prepare to never achieve the speed limit, I swear the people around here never are in a hurry to get anywhere, and then there are some that would rather run you down than not do
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in excess over the speed limit.
Just go with the flow of traffic. We don't have a ton of traffic so it's not that bad.
Des Moines, IA Buying Tips
Go to the Carl's or Bob Brown's or some other reputable place, even for used. Stay away from the Car Max and chains. Avoid the Merle hay Auto Mile.
Craigslist is pretty straight here, I bought a few and sold one on it.
Favorite Driving Memory
About midnight on a weekday heading to a friend that lives on the east side from West Des Moines on I235. This before all the speed camera crap and I was just cruising at 100 or more in my brand new Ford Taurus.
Not a single headlight in either direction, it was like the road was closed and I was t
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he only one on it. It was eerie but yet peaceful.
Just glad no cops were sitting around waiting for someone like me.
Favorite Road
I235
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I really don't have one, our city isn't a huge city we have University for East and West and 14th for North and South, I live in Pleasant Hill to the East and most shopping is in Jordan Creek or West Des Moines to the west so the road I end up using the most is the freeway I235.
Not really my favor
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ite but my default choice for the most common route traveled.
