Origin
Atlantic, IA
Late night in Atlantic on Wednesday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlantic, IA to Urbandale, IA
Data updated 5 hours ago
Drive Time
1h 33m
Distance
78.6 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 48m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 47m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlantic, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Atlantic, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 78.6 miles and takes about 1h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 6, 650th Street, East 7th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62 miles on US 6. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
39.3 miles from Atlantic, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 33m highway drive covering 78.6 miles, with most of the trip on US 6 and 650th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 62 miles on US 6.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 62 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,386 ft
880 ft
Total Climb
269 ft
Total Descent
538 ft
Highest Point
1,386 ft
~22.5 mi in
Elevation Range
506 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and 650th Street. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chestnut Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chestnut Street
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
8
72 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
75.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
7
75.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
73rd Street
Turn sharp left onto 73rd Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
78.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
Maryland Drive
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 6 | 62 mi | 1h 7m |
| 650th Street | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| East 7th Street | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| 73rd Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 72nd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Roseland Drive | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| 70th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 62 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlantic, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on this road
227 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
266 ft
·
9 sec
·
Chestnut Street
3
Turn right onto US 6; IA 83
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
4
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
650th Street
5
Take the exit onto US 6
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
US 6
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn sharp left onto 73rd Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
73rd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Continue on 72nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
72nd Street
10
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Roseland Drive
11
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft
·
10 sec
·
70th Street
12
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Maryland Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.3 miles from Atlantic, IA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 78.6 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.3 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Atlantic, 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 Atlantic, IA
This is one driving day of about 78.6 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Atlantic, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on US 6 for about 62 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.3 mi from Atlantic, IA · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 78.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Atlantic, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Urbandale, IA
The final approach into Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, 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
$11.94 one way
$23.88 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.16 | $26.32 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.84 | $29.68 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.46 | $34.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.25 | $3.77 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.88 | $3.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.4 | 0 | $11.00 | $5.03 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Urbandale, IA
Late night in Urbandale on Wednesday
Local time
1:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
32 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 33m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Atlantic, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 78.6 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 6, 650th Street, East 7th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.3 miles from Atlantic, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.6 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 72 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Atlantic, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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