The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Durant, IA covers 276.3 miles and takes about 5h 6m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, West Kanesville Boulevard, Yankee Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 267.9 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.20 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
138.1 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 276.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 6m highway drive covering 276.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and West Kanesville Boulevard. The longest continuous stretch is about 267.9 miles on I 80.
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.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 267.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and West Kanesville Boulevard. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 276.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
5.2 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
9
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
5
273.4 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward Durant, Bennett
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Durant, Bennett
5
276.2 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|4th Street
Turn left onto 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Council Bluffs, IA and Durant, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Minneapolis
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Kansas City
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
267.9 mi
4h 50m
West Kanesville Boulevard
4.2 mi
7m
Yankee Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
West Broadway
1 mi
2m
5th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
6th Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 267.9 mi, about 4h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Durant, 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
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
114 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 80
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
140 mi·2 hr 31 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward Durant, Bennett
9
Turn right onto CR Y26
2.1 mi·3 min·Yankee Avenue
10
At end of road, turn left onto CR Y26; US 6 Hist
0.4 mi·43 sec·5th Street
11
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
390 ft·22 sec·6th Avenue
12
Turn left onto 4th Street
350 ft·15 sec·4th Street
13
Arrive at destination
4th Street
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 138.1 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 267.9 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 61 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.1 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Durant, 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 276.3 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Council Bluffs, 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 I 80 for about 267.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.1 mi from Council Bluffs, IA
· 2h 34m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.20 one way
$86.39 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$47.43
$94.86
premium
$4.89
$53.17
$106.34
diesel
$5.61
$61.00
$122.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.9
1
$29.01
$13.26
Efficient EV
69.1
0
$24.18
$11.05
EV Truck/SUV
110.5
1
$38.68
$17.68
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Evening
in Council Bluffs on Friday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Durant, IA
Evening
in Durant on Friday
Local time
5:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
5 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
5h 6m 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 Council Bluffs, IA to Durant, IA covers 276.3 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, West Kanesville Boulevard, Yankee Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.1 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 $43.20 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 276.3 miles you will encounter 9 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 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Council Bluffs, IA and Durant, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
