Origin
Arnolds Park, IA
Late night in Arnolds Park on Saturday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Arnolds Park, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h
Distance
172.5 mi
278 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 48m
★
6 AM
4h 1m
8 AM
4h 27m
10 AM
4h 10m
12 PM
4h 7m
3 PM
4h 11m
5 PM
4h 25m
8 PM
3h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Arnolds Park, IA
Tom Fisk
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Arnolds Park, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 172.5 miles and takes about 4h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 130th Avenue, I 80, Fox Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.1 miles on 130th Avenue. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.97 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
86.2 miles from Arnolds Park, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 172.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Arnolds Park, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 172.5 miles and takes about 4h, 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 48 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
130th Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 29.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 16.8 miles in near West 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.5 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles (West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 68.7 miles (M43 / Fox Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
16.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
West 2nd Street
At end of road, turn left onto West 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
6
63.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward US 20 West: Sioux City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 West: Sioux City
6
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
M43 / Fox Avenue
Turn left onto M43 / Fox Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
149 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m 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
167.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 52m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 130th Avenue | 29.1 mi | 39m |
| I 80 | 18.1 mi | 19m |
| Fox Avenue | 17.2 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 39 | 17.1 mi | 23m |
| 260th Street | 17 mi | 23m |
| Okoboji Grove Road North | 15.4 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 191 | 14 mi | 19m |
| 215th Avenue | 13.4 mi | 18m |
Longest stretch:
130th Avenue
— 29.1 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Arnolds Park, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on Kruse Beach
125 ft
·
10 sec
·
Kruse Beach
2
Turn left onto Iowa Street
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Iowa Street
3
Turn right onto Linden Drive
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Linden Drive
4
Turn left onto US 71
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Okoboji Grove Road North
5
Continue on US 18; US 71
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
6
Turn right onto West 8th Street
384 ft
·
12 sec
·
West 8th Street
7
Turn left onto 1st Avenue West
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
1st Avenue West
8
At end of road, turn left onto West 2nd Street
389 ft
·
11 sec
·
West 2nd Street
9
Turn right onto US 18; US 71
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Avenue
10
Turn right onto 4th Street Southwest
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
4th Street Southwest
11
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
4th Avenue Southwest
12
Turn right onto US 71
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
11th Street Southwest
13
Turn left onto US 71
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
11th Avenue Southwest
14
Continue on US 71
13 mi
·
18 min
·
215th Avenue
15
Continue on US 71
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
130th Avenue
16
Continue on US 71
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway 71
17
Continue on US 71
28 mi
·
38 min
·
130th Avenue
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 20 West: Sioux City
19
Merge onto US 20
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
220th Street
20
Turn left onto M43
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Fox Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Continue on IA 39
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Des Moines Street
22
Continue on IA 39
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Fox Avenue
23
Continue on IA 39
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
400th Street
24
Continue on IA 39
17 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 39
25
Turn left
217 ft
·
9 sec
26
Turn straight onto US 59; IA 141
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
27
Continue on US 59; IA 141
17 mi
·
23 min
·
260th Street
28
Turn right onto IA 37
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 37
29
Continue on IA 37
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Railway Street
30
Turn left onto IA 191
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 191
31
Continue on IA 191
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Railway Street
32
Continue on IA 191
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 191
33
Continue on IA 191
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Iowa 191
34
Continue on IA 191
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
1st Street
35
Continue on IA 191
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Railway Street
36
Continue on IA 191
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
1st Street
37
Continue on IA 191
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Iowa 191
38
Continue on IA 191
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Railroad Highway
39
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
40
Merge onto I 880
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 880
41
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 16B
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Merge onto I 80
18 mi
·
19 min
·
I 80
43
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
44
Turn straight onto IA 906
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
45
Continue on IA 906
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Broadway
46
Continue on IA 906
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
47
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Broadway
48
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 86.2 miles from Arnolds Park, IA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.1 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 38 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.2 miles or 2h 3m 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 20m
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 Arnolds Park, 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 Arnolds Park, IA
This is one driving day of about 172.5 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Arnolds Park, 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 130th Avenue for about 29.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.2 mi from Arnolds Park, IA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.2 miles from Arnolds Park, 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
$26.97 one way
$53.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.61 | $59.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.20 | $66.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.09 | $76.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.11 | $8.28 |
| Efficient EV | 43.1 | 0 | $15.09 | $6.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69 | 0 | $24.15 | $11.04 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Late night in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 21 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
74°F
Denison, IA
86 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
24 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 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 Arnolds Park, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 172.5 miles and takes about 4h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 130th Avenue, I 80, Fox Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.2 miles from Arnolds Park, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.97 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.5 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.8 miles (West 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 68.7 miles (M43 / Fox Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Arnolds Park, IA to Council Bluffs, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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