Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Sunday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Carter Lake, IA
Drive Time
15m
Distance
6.7 mi
11 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Tom Fisk
Carter Lake, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Carter Lake, IA covers 6.7 miles and takes about 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 480 West, 14th Street, North 14th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.02 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
3.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 15m drive with frequent turns across 6.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 480 West 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 Carter Lake, IA is easy. At 15m 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 Carter Lake, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 480 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 14th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 14th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Izard Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 11th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Locust Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 9th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
I 480 West
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Carter Lake, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway
2.7 mi
·
6 min
·
West Broadway
2
Take the ramp straight toward I 480 West, US 6 West
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
I 480 West, US 6 West
3
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
5
Turn right onto North 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 14th Street
6
Turn right onto Izard Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Izard Street
7
Continue on North 11th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North 11th Street
8
Turn right onto East Locust Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Locust Street
9
Turn left onto North 9th Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
North 9th Street
10
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 3.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 7m 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 6.7 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 3.3 miles or 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carter Lake, 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 6.7 miles and 15m.
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 3.3 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
3 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
Arriving in Carter Lake, IA
The final approach into Carter Lake, 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 Carter Lake, 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
$1.02 one way
$2.04 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $1.12 | $2.24 |
| premium | $4.80 | $1.26 | $2.53 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $1.49 | $2.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$26–$51
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.70 | $0.32 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.59 | $0.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.94 | $0.43 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Carter Lake, IA
Afternoon in Carter Lake on Sunday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
6 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
15m 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 Carter Lake, IA covers 6.7 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 480 West, 14th Street, North 14th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.3 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 $1.02 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 Carter Lake, IA is easy. At 15m 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 Carter Lake, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Council Bluffs, IA to Carter Lake, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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