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West Des Moines
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West Des Moines, Iowa, pairs Valley Junction heritage with Jordan Creek shopping, riverside parks, local dining and easy access to Des Moines attractions.

From Valley Junction to Modern Suburbia

West Des Moines occupies a broad stretch of central Iowa west of the Des Moines River, combining the ease of a contemporary suburban city with a small but tangible historic core. Its story is closely tied to Valley Junction, the former railway settlement whose early commercial buildings and independent shops still line Fifth Street. Today, the district provides the city's most distinctive sense of place, with seasonal festivals, restaurants, galleries and locally owned stores set among preserved low-rise architecture.
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Shopping, Parks and Everyday Culture

Further west, Jordan Creek Town Center and the surrounding business district form one of the metropolitan area's major retail and employment centres, with shops, restaurants, entertainment and hotels arranged around a landscaped urban setting. West Des Moines also has generous parks and trails: Raccoon River Park, on the city's western edge, offers walking routes, open lawns, a lake, sports facilities and access to the wider recreational landscape of the Raccoon River. The city is less a traditional sightseeing destination than a well-connected base for exploring Greater Des Moines, yet its historic junction, independent businesses, public spaces and active local calendar give it an identity beyond commuter suburbia.

When is the best time to visit West Des Moines?

Best: May, September–October · 18–25°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January124
February325
March1149
April1885
May (best)23116
June29125
July31106
August30109
September (best)2587
October (best)1868
November1043
December230

Getting to and around West Des Moines

How to get there

West Des Moines is served primarily by road and lies within the Des Moines metropolitan area. Des Moines International Airport, in the city of Des Moines, is the region's principal commercial airport and is the usual air gateway for visitors; ground transport is needed for the onward journey to West Des Moines. Interstate 35 and Interstate 80 provide direct regional access, while Interstate 235 connects West Des Moines with central Des Moines and other metropolitan districts. Long-distance bus services and passenger rail are centred on the wider Des Moines area rather than on a major terminal in West Des Moines, so visitors arriving without a car should check current connections and arrange a taxi or rideshare for the final leg.

Transportation

A car is generally the most practical way to move around West Des Moines because the city stretches across arterial roads, commercial areas and separated residential districts. Walking is pleasant within parts of Valley Junction, around selected parks and along some trail corridors, but most attractions are not connected by one compact pedestrian centre. Local bus services operate across the Des Moines metropolitan area, including West Des Moines, although routes and frequencies vary by corridor and time of day. Taxis and rideshare services can be useful between the airport, hotels, Jordan Creek and Valley Junction. Drivers should allow for busy commuter periods and check parking arrangements at major shopping and entertainment destinations.

Best attractions in West Des Moines

West Des Moines's attractions are spread across several distinct areas rather than gathered around a single central square. Valley Junction is the most characterful place to explore on foot, with historic commercial buildings, independent shops, galleries, restaurants and a regular programme of community events along and around Fifth Street. At the opposite end of the city's development story, Jordan Creek Town Center combines retail, dining, entertainment and landscaped public areas in a large contemporary complex. Raccoon River Park offers a more spacious experience, with a lake, walking paths, sports facilities, open lawns and seasonal recreation beside the river landscape. The West Des Moines Historical Society provides additional context for the community's past, while the city's trail network links selected neighbourhoods and green spaces. Visitors interested in regional culture can also use West Des Moines as a base for museums, gardens and performing arts venues elsewhere in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

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Best landmarks in West Des Moines

West Des Moines's most meaningful landmarks reflect civic history and changing patterns of urban growth. The Valley Junction Historic District, centred on Fifth Street, preserves the commercial character of the railway settlement that preceded the modern municipality; its modest nineteenth- and early twentieth-century buildings are significant as a surviving link to the city's origins. The Jordan Creek Town Center area represents a contrasting contemporary landmark, expressing the scale of late twentieth-century retail and business development that shifted the city's centre of activity westwards. Raccoon River Park is a landscape landmark rather than a monumental structure, marking the importance of the river corridor, public recreation and open space in an expanding suburban city. Local churches, civic buildings and older residential streets around Valley Junction add further evidence of the community's twentieth-century development, even where no single structure dominates the skyline.

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Explore West Des Moines on the map

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Best restaurants in West Des Moines

West Des Moines has a broad, metropolitan dining scene shaped by suburban growth, central Iowa produce and the tastes of a diverse regional population. Valley Junction offers independent restaurants, cafés, bakeries and relaxed places to eat within a historic low-rise setting, while the Jordan Creek and Westown Parkway areas provide a much larger selection of full-service restaurants, casual dining, coffee shops and familiar national brands. Menus range from Midwestern comfort food, burgers and barbecue to Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean and contemporary American cooking. Iowa's agricultural identity appears through pork, beef, sweet corn, seasonal vegetables and locally produced drinks, although the city is not defined by one single signature dish. Food-focused visitors will find the greatest variety along the commercial corridors, whereas Valley Junction is better suited to combining a meal with browsing local businesses and historic streets.

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Best bars in West Des Moines

West Des Moines's evening scene is generally social and low-key rather than centred on a dense nightclub district. Valley Junction has neighbourhood bars, casual drinking spots and restaurants where evenings often revolve around conversation, live local entertainment and seasonal events. Around Jordan Creek and the city's major commercial corridors, visitors will find sports bars, cocktail-focused venues, breweries and lounges serving the after-work and weekend crowd, with entertainment clustered within larger shopping and hotel areas rather than along one continuous nightlife street. Live music and community performances may appear as part of festivals or scheduled events, while cinemas and restaurant-based entertainment offer alternatives to drinking. Because the city is spread out and many venues are reached by car, visitors should plan transport between locations and use a designated driver or rideshare when consuming alcohol.

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Best nightclubs in West Des Moines

West Des Moines's evening scene is generally social and low-key rather than centred on a dense nightclub district. Valley Junction has neighbourhood bars, casual drinking spots and restaurants where evenings often revolve around conversation, live local entertainment and seasonal events. Around Jordan Creek and the city's major commercial corridors, visitors will find sports bars, cocktail-focused venues, breweries and lounges serving the after-work and weekend crowd, with entertainment clustered within larger shopping and hotel areas rather than along one continuous nightlife street. Live music and community performances may appear as part of festivals or scheduled events, while cinemas and restaurant-based entertainment offer alternatives to drinking. Because the city is spread out and many venues are reached by car, visitors should plan transport between locations and use a designated driver or rideshare when consuming alcohol.

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Best shops in West Des Moines

Shopping is one of West Des Moines's defining modern activities, with Jordan Creek Town Center serving as the largest and most concentrated retail destination. Its indoor and outdoor areas contain department-store-scale shopping, specialist retailers, dining and entertainment, while nearby commercial corridors extend the choice into furniture, home goods, fashion, personal services and everyday retail. Valley Junction offers a different experience: independent boutiques, gift shops, galleries, vintage and antique-oriented businesses, seasonal stalls and locally made goods occupy the historic Fifth Street area. Visitors may find Iowa-themed food products, crafts, artwork and practical souvenirs among the smaller retailers, although stock changes from shop to shop. Community markets and festival trading add a seasonal dimension, while the contrast between Valley Junction's walkable localism and Jordan Creek's planned commercial scale illustrates how West Des Moines has developed from railway town to regional shopping centre.

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West Des Moines essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar (USD). Credit and debit cards, including contactless payments, are widely used in hotels, restaurants, shops and larger attractions, while mobile wallets are accepted by many businesses. Carrying a small amount of cash remains sensible for independent retailers, markets, event stalls and occasional smaller purchases, although practices vary. ATMs are available in commercial districts and inside or near banks, shops and shopping centres. International visitors should notify their card provider when appropriate and check foreign-exchange fees, dynamic currency conversion prompts and any charges applied by their home bank or the cash machine operator.
Safety
West Des Moines is a spread-out metropolitan suburb, so ordinary urban precautions remain appropriate. Keep valuables out of sight in parked vehicles, secure bags in busy shopping areas and use well-lit routes after dark, particularly when walking between separated commercial sites. Traffic is often a greater practical concern than sightseeing hazards: use marked crossings, remain alert on multi-lane roads and take care around car parks. Weather can change quickly, with winter ice and snow, thunderstorms and occasional severe weather affecting travel. Visitors should follow local warnings, avoid flooded roads and use official guidance during storms rather than relying solely on navigation apps.
Emergency Situations
In the United States, dial 911 for police, fire or urgent medical assistance; the number is free from mobile and landline phones. State the exact address or nearby intersection, explain the nature of the emergency and remain on the line until instructed otherwise. For non-urgent police matters, contact the relevant local department through its official non-emergency channel. Emergency departments and urgent-care services serve the wider Des Moines metropolitan area, but visitors should confirm locations and accepted insurance before needing treatment where possible. In severe weather, monitor official alerts and move indoors promptly, especially during tornado or flash-flood warnings.
Do's and Don'ts
Do allow extra time for driving between districts, use pedestrian crossings and follow posted instructions in parks and recreational areas. Do observe queueing customs, respect private property and remember that tax and, in many service settings, a tip may be added or expected; check the bill rather than assuming. Do dress casually for most everyday activities, while choosing smart-casual clothing for more formal restaurants or events. Do not walk on private land, ignore trail or road closures, or leave rubbish in parks. At festivals and independent businesses, patience and courteous conversation are appreciated, and local rules should be treated as practical requirements rather than optional suggestions.
Local Tips
Plan West Des Moines by area: Valley Junction suits historic streets and independent businesses, Jordan Creek suits shopping, dining and entertainment, and Raccoon River Park provides the clearest change of pace into open recreational space. A map is useful because the districts are separated by broad roads and suburban development. The city's trails and parks are best enjoyed in daylight, while winter conditions may affect walking and cycling surfaces. For a fuller metropolitan itinerary, combine West Des Moines with attractions in Des Moines and neighbouring communities, but check addresses carefully because similarly named parks, businesses and civic facilities may lie in different municipalities.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHey there[hey thair]
GoodbyeSee ya[see yuh]
YesYup[yuhp]
NoNah[nah]
Please/You're welcomePlease/No problem[pleez/no problem]
Thank youThanks[thaynks]
Excuse me/SorryPardon me/My bad[pardun me/my bad]
How are you?Howdy[how-dee]
Fine. And you?I'm good. You?[ahym good. yuh?]
Do you speak English?Y'all speak English?[yawl speak ing-glish?]
I don't understandI don't get it[ahy don't get it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I check out the menu?[can eye chek out the menu?]
I don't eat meatI don't do meat[ahy don't doh meet]
Cheers!Cheers![cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseI'll settle up, please[ahyl set-uhl up, pleez]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![help!]
Go away!Beat it![beet it!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![call the cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![get uh doc!]
I'm lostI'm turned around[ahym turned uh-round]
I'm illI'm under the weather[ahym under the weh-thur]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I'm lookin' to buy...[ahym look-in toh buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsin'[just brow-zin]
How much is it?What's the damage?[whats the dam-ij?]
That's too expensiveThat's a bit steep[thats uh bit steep]
Can you lower the price?Can ya come down on the price?[can yuh com down on the price?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What's the time?[whats the time?]
It's one o'clockIt's one[its wuhn]
Half past (10)Ten-thirty[ten-thur-tee]
MorningMornin'[morn-in]
AfternoonAfternoon[after-noon]
EveningEvenin'[even-in]
YesterdayYest'day[yest-day]
TodayToday[toh-day]
TomorrowTomorrow[tom-or-row]
1One[wuhn]
2Two[too]
3Three[three]
4Four[four]
5Five[five]
6Six[six]
7Seven[sev-uhn]
8Eight[ayt]
9Nine[nayn]
10Ten[ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where's the...?[wheres the...?]
What's the address?Where's it at?[wheres it at?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can you point it out?[can yuh point it out?]
When's the next (bus)?When's the next bus?[whens the next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket (to ....)[uh ticket (to ....)]

History of West Des Moines

Prairie Settlement and River Country

The area now known as West Des Moines developed within the prairie and woodland landscape of central Iowa, shaped by the Raccoon River and the wider Des Moines River valley. Indigenous peoples used and travelled through this region long before Euro-American settlement, while nineteenth-century settlers were drawn by fertile land, water and proximity to the growing town of Des Moines across the river. Farms, roads and small rural communities gradually established the pattern of settlement that later urban expansion would transform. The landscape remains visible in the city's broad corridors, creek systems and river parks, although most of the original prairie has been replaced by residential, commercial and civic development.

The Railway Creates Valley Junction

West Des Moines's urban beginnings are associated with the arrival of railways in the late nineteenth century. A settlement known as Valley Junction emerged around the railway crossing and became a service and trading point for surrounding farms. Its location west of the Des Moines River gave it a separate commercial identity, while the railway connected local producers and merchants with regional markets. The surviving buildings around Fifth Street reflect the scale and purpose of this early district: narrow shopfronts, modest commercial blocks and streets designed for a town that depended on rail transport and face-to-face trade. Valley Junction remains the clearest physical link to the city's formative period.

Incorporation as West Des Moines

The municipality was incorporated as West Des Moines in 1938, formalising the community's civic identity beyond the older Valley Junction name. During the first half of the twentieth century, the city remained relatively compact and closely tied to rail, agriculture and local commerce. Its development followed the broader pattern of central Iowa towns, with churches, schools, family businesses and residential streets providing the institutions of everyday life. Valley Junction continued to function as the traditional business centre, while improved roads and changing transport habits gradually weakened the railway's former dominance. The name West Des Moines also expressed the community's close relationship with, yet administrative distinction from, the larger city to the east.

Post-war Roads and Metropolitan Growth

After the Second World War, expanding car ownership, new roads and suburban housing altered West Des Moines's scale and character. Residential districts spread beyond the historic junction, and the city became increasingly integrated with the employment, education and services of the Des Moines metropolitan area. Commercial development followed major arterial roads, while schools, parks and municipal facilities supported the growing population. This period shifted the centre of daily activity away from the railway district, although Valley Junction retained its historic buildings and community associations. The result was a city with two complementary identities: an older commercial neighbourhood rooted in local history and a dispersed suburban landscape shaped by post-war mobility.

Jordan Creek and the Contemporary City

Late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century development established West Des Moines as one of the metropolitan area's principal business and retail centres. The Jordan Creek area brought large-scale shopping, offices, hospitality and entertainment to the western part of the city, while new housing and infrastructure continued to extend the urban edge. At the same time, investment in parks, trails and recreational facilities helped balance commercial growth with public open space. Contemporary West Des Moines therefore reflects several layers of central Iowa's development: Indigenous and agricultural landscapes, a railway-born historic district, post-war suburbia and a regionally important commercial corridor.

West Des Moines in Photos

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  • History of West Des Moines and travel essentials.
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Welcome to West Des Moines, a city brimming with charm, culture, and endless opportunities for adventure. With Evendo, the ultimate travel guide app, your journey through West Des Moines becomes an unforgettable experience. Whether you're marveling at the historic Jordan House, exploring the vibrant Valley Junction, or dining at the famous Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Evendo has you covered.

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