Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA

Drive Time

1h 13m

Distance

59.3 mi

96 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min

4 AM

1h 7m ★

6 AM

1h 13m

8 AM

1h 25m

10 AM

1h 17m

12 PM

1h 16m

3 PM

1h 18m

5 PM

1h 24m

8 PM

1h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 59.3 miles and takes about 1h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Broadway, West Kanesville Boulevard, IA 173 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.01 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

29.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 13m drive with frequent turns across 59.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West Broadway 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 Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Broadway	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Kanesville Boulevard	Unavailable	Refreshing
IA 173	Unavailable	Refreshing
590th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 83	Unavailable	Refreshing
Marne Road	Unavailable	Refreshing
Sunnyside Lane	Unavailable	Refreshing
West 6th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: West Broadway — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Atlantic, IA.

1

Start on West Broadway

0.4 mi · 1 min · West Broadway

2

Continue on West Broadway

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Broadway

3

Continue on West Kanesville Boulevard

4.2 mi · 7 min · West Kanesville Boulevard

4

Take the ramp slight left

0.3 mi · 34 sec

5

Merge slight left

45 mi · 48 min

6

Take the exit slight right toward IA 173

0.4 mi · 55 sec · IA 173

7

Turn right onto 590th Street

4.8 mi · 6 min · 590th Street

8

At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 83

1.9 mi · 2 min · State Highway 83

9

Continue on Marne Road

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Marne Road

10

Turn right onto Sunnyside Lane

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Sunnyside Lane

11

Turn left onto West 6th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West 6th Street

12

Turn right onto Poplar Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Poplar Street

13

Turn left

161 ft · 12 sec

14

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 29.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 36m 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 59.3 miles or 1h 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 29.7 miles or 36m 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 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlantic, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Council Bluffs, 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 Council Bluffs, IA

This is one driving day of about 59.3 miles and 1h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Council Bluffs, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 29.7 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 36m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Omaha, NE

30 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

Denison, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Omaha, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 29.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Atlantic, IA

The final approach into Atlantic, 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 Atlantic, 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

$9.01 one way

$18.01 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$9.93	$19.86
premium	$4.80	$11.19	$22.39
diesel	$5.64	$13.17	$26.35

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$9

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	17.8	$6.23	$2.85
Efficient EV	14.8	$5.19	$2.37
EV Truck/SUV	23.7	$8.30	$3.80

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Council Bluffs, IA

Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Sunday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Atlantic, IA

Afternoon in Atlantic on Sunday

Local time

2:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°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

21 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

1h 13m 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 Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 59.3 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Broadway, West Kanesville Boulevard, IA 173. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 29.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.01 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 Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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