Origin
Carlisle, IA
Afternoon in Carlisle on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
28m
Distance
19.6 mi
32 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 29m
8 AM
0h 34m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 31m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carlisle, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 19.6 miles and takes about 28m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, IA 28, Grand Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.06 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
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
9.8 miles from Carlisle, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 28m drive with frequent turns across 19.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | — | — |
| IA 28 | — | — |
| Grand Avenue | — | — |
| 8th Street | — | — |
| 73rd Street | — | — |
| 72nd Street | — | — |
| Roseland Drive | — | — |
| 70th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carlisle, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on North 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
North 5th Street
2
Turn right
2.7 mi
·
3 min
3
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
4
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
5
Turn right
5.0 mi
·
8 min
6
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Grand Avenue
7
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Street
8
Continue on 73rd Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
73rd Street
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
·
11 sec
·
70th Street
12
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Maryland Drive
13
Arrive at your destination
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 9.8 miles from Carlisle, IA, or about 14m into the drive.
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 19.6 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.8 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Carlisle, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carlisle, IA
This is one driving day of about 19.6 miles and 28m.
At 19.6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.8 mi from Carlisle, IA · 14m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 9.8 miles from Carlisle, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Urbandale, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Urbandale, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.06 one way
$6.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.36 | $6.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.77 | $7.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.33 | $8.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
| Efficient EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.72 | $0.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Afternoon in Urbandale on Wednesday
Local time
4:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
28m 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 Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 19.6 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, IA 28, Grand Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.8 miles from Carlisle, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.06 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.
The drive from Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 28m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Carlisle, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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