Des Moines, IA area guide

Things to Do Near MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center

Groceries, food, days-off ideas and shopping close to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Made for travel nurses and RTs on contract.

5 groceries8 restaurants8 to do5 shopping

Photo: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) / CC BY-SA 2.5

Groceries

Closest grocery stores to stock the fridge on week one.

• Hy-Vee

  Hy-Vee grocery store. Listed hours 6 AM to 9 PM daily

  ~1.3 mi / ~4 minMap
• Plaza Food Market

  Local grocery store

  ~1.7 mi / ~6 minMap
• Fareway

  Fareway grocery store

  ~2.7 mi / ~7 minMap
• ALDI

  Aldi budget grocery store. Listed hours 9 AM to 8 PM daily

  ~3.4 mi / ~8 minMap
• Cash Saver

  Cash Saver Grocery Outlet grocery store. Listed hours 7 AM to 10 PM daily

  ~4.9 mi / ~12 minMap

Restaurants

Local spots with working websites. Places marked open late or early are handy around a night shift.

• Bar NicoOpen late

  Mexican restaurant

  ~1.2 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• StarbucksOpens early

  Coffee shop. Listed hours 5 AM to 7 PM daily

  ~1.2 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• Buzzard Billy’sSit-down

  Local restaurant

  ~0.8 mi / ~3 minWebsite
• Tacos La FamiliaSit-down

  Mexican restaurant

  ~0.8 mi / ~3 minWebsite
• Clyde’s Fine DinerSit-down

  Restaurant

  ~1.0 mi / ~3 minWebsite
• Zombie Burger + BirdSit-down

  Burgers restaurant

  ~1.0 mi / ~3 minWebsite
• Almost Famous Popcorn CompanyQuick bite

  Quick-service spot

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• Scenic Route BakeryQuick bite

  Cafe

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite

Things to do

Parks, water, breweries and more for your days off.

• Mercy Park

  Park, good for a walk between shifts

  ~0.3 mi / ~2 minMap
• Nash Park

  Local park with room to stretch your legs

  ~0.4 mi / ~2 minMap
• Bates Park

  Park, nice for some fresh air on a day off

  ~0.6 mi / ~2 minMap
• Gray’s Lake

  Lake. If you fish, get an Iowa license first

  ~2.8 mi / ~7 minMap
• Lake Colechester

  Reservoir. If you fish, get an Iowa license first

  ~9.8 mi / ~17 minMap
• Court Avenue Brewing Company

  Local brewery

  ~1.2 mi / ~4 minWebsite
• Big Grove Brewery & Taproom

  Local brewery

  ~1.5 mi / ~5 minWebsite
• World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

  Museum, good for a rainy day off

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minWebsite

Shopping

Malls and big stores for anything you forgot to pack.

• Gordmans

  Gordmans department store

  ~3.8 mi / ~9 minMap
• Target

  Target for clothes, home goods and basics

  ~5.9 mi / ~14 minMap
• Ross

  Ross, discount clothes and home goods

  ~5.9 mi / ~14 minMap
• Southridge Mall

  Shopping mall

  ~7.0 mi / ~12 minMap
• Jordan Creek Town Center

  Shopping center

  ~12 mi / ~21 minWebsite

Laundromats

Closest self-serve laundromats for scrubs and linens when your rental or RV park doesn’t have a washer.

• Suzy’s Laundry Wash n’ Fold

  Self-serve laundromat

  ~1.8 mi / ~6 minMap
• Laundry Bubbles

  Laundromat

  ~2.1 mi / ~5 minMap
• Busy Bubbles Laundry

  Laundromat

  ~2.7 mi / ~7 minMap

Coffee shops

Nearest coffee shops, local spots first. Places marked “Opens early” are handy after a night shift.

• Vibrant Coffeehouse + Kitchen

  Local coffee shop

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minMap
• Daisy Chain Coffee

  Local coffee shop

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minMap
• StarbucksOpens early

  Starbucks coffee chain. Listed hours 5 AM to 7 PM daily

  ~1.2 mi / ~4 minMap

Gyms

Closest gyms to keep your routine on contract. Ask about short-term or month-to-month memberships.

• CrossFit 8035, at The Garage

  Local gym

  ~0.8 mi / ~3 minMap
• Capitol Row

  Local gym

  ~1.1 mi / ~4 minMap
• Pace317Opens early

  Local gym

  ~1.3 mi / ~4 minMap

Nearby RV parks

Monthly-stay parks near MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center from our RV parks list. Call to confirm the rate and a spot for your dates.

• River Oaks RV Park

  22905 Buchanan Trail, Hartford, IA 50118

  From $795/mo

  ~20 mi / ~25 minRates & phone
• Griff’s Valley View RV Park

  6429 NE 46th St, Altoona, IA 50009

  $500/mo long-term (per listing; winter electric fees may apply)

  ~12 mi / ~18 minRates & phone
• Des Moines West KOA Holiday

  34308 L Ave, Adel, IA 50003

  Call for monthly rate

  ~22 mi / ~28 minRates & phone

Need a license for Iowa? See the state licensing boards, then run through the contract checklists and housing tips.

Looking for your next contract? See Iowa travel contracts posted by staffing agencies.

Sources: place data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), plus each place’s own website and Wikidata. Last checked Oct 2026.