Origin
Algona, IA
Morning in Algona on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Algona, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 25m
Distance
199.2 mi
321 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 12m
★
6 AM
4h 25m
8 AM
4h 52m
10 AM
4h 35m
12 PM
4h 32m
3 PM
4h 36m
5 PM
4h 51m
8 PM
4h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Algona, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Algona, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 199.2 miles and takes about 4h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20 Business, Lincoln Avenue, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 49.9 miles on US 20 Business. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.14 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
99.6 miles from Algona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Algona, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 199.2 miles and takes about 4h 25m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 Business is the longest continuous segment at about 49.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East McGregor Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East McGregor Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 169 / South Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 95.5 miles (M43 / Fox Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East McGregor Street
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 169 / South Phillips Street
Turn right onto US 169 / South Phillips Street
Navigation decision point
6
95.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
M43 / Fox Avenue
Turn left onto M43 / Fox Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
175.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16B
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
5
194.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 Business | 49.9 mi | 58m |
| Lincoln Avenue | 26.9 mi | 37m |
| I 80 | 18.1 mi | 19m |
| Fox Avenue | 17.2 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 39 | 17.1 mi | 23m |
| 260th Street | 17 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 191 | 14 mi | 19m |
| South Phillips Street | 6.4 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
US 20 Business
— 49.9 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Algona, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on US 169
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Jones Street
2
Turn left onto East McGregor Street
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East McGregor Street
3
Turn right onto US 169
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Phillips Street
4
Continue on US 169
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
US Highway 169
5
Continue on US 169
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
South Phillips Street
6
Continue on US 169
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
120th Avenue
7
Continue on US 169
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
8
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
13th Street North
9
Continue on US 169
377 ft
·
8 sec
·
Lincoln Avenue
10
Continue on US 169
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
13th Street South
11
Continue on US 169
15 mi
·
21 min
·
Lincoln Avenue
12
Turn right onto US 20 Business
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Kenyon Road
13
Turn left onto US 20 Business
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
US 20 Business
14
Take the ramp onto US 20 Business
50 mi
·
57 min
·
US 20 Business
Toward US 20 West
15
Turn left onto M43
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Fox Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on IA 39
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Des Moines Street
17
Continue on IA 39
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Fox Avenue
18
Continue on IA 39
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
400th Street
19
Continue on IA 39
17 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 39
20
Turn left
217 ft
·
9 sec
21
Turn straight onto US 59; IA 141
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
22
Continue on US 59; IA 141
17 mi
·
23 min
·
260th Street
23
Turn right onto IA 37
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 37
24
Continue on IA 37
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Railway Street
25
Turn left onto IA 191
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 191
26
Continue on IA 191
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Railway Street
27
Continue on IA 191
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 191
28
Continue on IA 191
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Iowa 191
29
Continue on IA 191
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
1st Street
30
Continue on IA 191
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Railway Street
31
Continue on IA 191
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
1st Street
32
Continue on IA 191
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Iowa 191
33
Continue on IA 191
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Highway
34
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
35
Merge onto I 880
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 880
36
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 16B
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Merge onto I 80
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 80
38
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
39
Turn straight onto IA 906
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
40
Continue on IA 906
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Broadway
41
Continue on IA 906
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
42
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Broadway
43
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 99.6 miles from Algona, IA, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.9 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.6 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Council Bluffs, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Algona, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Algona, IA
This is one driving day of about 199.2 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Algona, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 20 Business for about 49.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.6 mi from Algona, IA · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.6 miles from Algona, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Council Bluffs, IA
The final approach into Council Bluffs, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Council Bluffs, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.14 one way
$62.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.19 | $68.39 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.33 | $76.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.98 | $87.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.92 | $9.56 |
| Efficient EV | 49.8 | 0 | $17.43 | $7.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.7 | 0 | $27.89 | $12.75 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Council Bluffs, IA
Morning in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
7:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Denison, IA
100 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
36 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Algona, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 199.2 miles and takes about 4h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20 Business, Lincoln Avenue, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.6 miles from Algona, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.14 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (East McGregor Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (US 169 / South Phillips Street): Navigation decision point; at 95.5 miles (M43 / Fox Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Algona, IA to Council Bluffs, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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