The corridor
Army Post Road, the corridor near The Oaks
One road does most of the south side's shopping and most of its getting around, and it runs a few blocks south of The Oaks. Here is what Army Post Road puts within easy reach.
The retail spine
Army Post Road runs east and west across the south side, and the stretch east of The Oaks is where the retail gathers. Southridge, with Target and the off-price stores, is 0.5 miles east (the Southridge page has the store list). Keep going to SE 14th Street and the big-box stores there, including a Walmart Supercenter at 5101 SE 14th Street, are about 1.5 miles. Gas, drive-throughs and everyday errands fill in along the way.
The easy way out
The same road is the quick way out of the neighborhood. Army Post connects to SE 14th Street, which is U.S. Highway 69, and to the interchanges that reach Interstates 35 and 80 around the metro. So the road that holds the shopping is also the road to work and out of town. The getting into the city page lays out the drive north.
Why it matters from SE 5th
Living on SE 5th means you get the quiet of a residential street and still reach the corridor in a few blocks. The shopping is close; so is the on-ramp. The Oaks is renovated one- and two-bedroom apartments, one bath, with a new kitchen, a redone bath, new flooring and fresh paint, and a stove and refrigerator in every home; select homes add a washer and dryer in the unit. Live pricing is on the availability page.
Questions people ask
What is on Army Post Road near The Oaks?
The south side's main retail run: Southridge with Target 0.5 miles east, the stores on SE 14th Street about 1.5 miles, and gas and everyday errands in between.
How do you get to the freeway from The Oaks?
Army Post Road connects to SE 14th Street, which is U.S. Highway 69, and on to the interchanges for Interstates 35 and 80 around the metro.
Is The Oaks close to the shopping?
Yes. The retail gathers on Army Post Road a few blocks south, with Southridge 0.5 miles east, while SE 5th Street itself stays residential and quiet.
Distances are road miles from 6209 SE 5th Street, measured with OpenStreetMap routing in October 2026. The Oaks keeps no distance module of its own, so the route planner is the source. The Walmart Supercenter at 5101 SE 14th Street is named from Measured Capital's verification for the sister site; Southridge anchors are confirmed on the retailers' own locators, October 2026.
More about living here
- Living in South Park, south Des Moines
- Shopping at Southridge, near The Oaks
- Groceries and everyday errands near The Oaks
- Eating and drinking near The Oaks
- Getting into the city from The Oaks
- Parks and trails near The Oaks
- Schools near The Oaks
- Garages you can rent at The Oaks
- The commons at The Oaks
- The floor plans at The Oaks, explained
- How to apply at The Oaks
- Working from home at The Oaks
- What residents say about The Oaks
- The neighborhood guide
- All questions