The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Epworth, IA covers 309.5 miles and takes about 6h 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, Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 132.7 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.39 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
154.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 309.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Epworth, IA covers 309.5 miles and takes about 6h 6m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 29 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 132.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 119.2 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 309.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 138.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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.
8
138.1 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
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 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
5
237.5 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
7
305.2 mi into trip|~6h in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East, US 52 South: Dubuque
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 20 East, US 52 South: Dubuque
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 Epworth, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Marion.
Minneapolis
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Kansas City
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Bondurant
138.1 mi in|~2h 35m|via US 65
Marion
237.5 mi in|~4h 31m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
132.7 mi
2h 24m
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
Marion Airport Road
24.1 mi
27m
200th Avenue
14.6 mi
16m
Farley Road
10.6 mi
18m
IA 100
9.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 132.7 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Epworth, 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
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
13
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
15
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
16
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
17
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
18
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi·27 min·Marion Airport Road
19
Continue on US 151
15 mi·16 min·200th Avenue
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
21
Turn left onto US 151 Business; CR Y13
11 mi·18 min·Farley Road
22
Turn right onto Olde Farley Road
0.5 mi·55 sec·Olde Farley Road
23
Turn left onto 1st Street Southwest
300 ft·8 sec·1st Street Southwest
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 20 East, US 52 South: Dubuque
25
Merge onto US 20; US 52
3.2 mi·3 min·Olde Hawkeye Road
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Exit 304Toward Epworth
27
Turn left onto Placid Road
0.1 mi·15 sec·Placid Road
28
Continue on Center Avenue South
0.3 mi·48 sec·Center Avenue South
29
Arrive at destination
Center Avenue South
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 154.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.7 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 68 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.7 miles or 2h 55m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Epworth, 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 309.5 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 132.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 154.7 mi from Council Bluffs, IA
· 2h 55m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.39 one way
$96.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$53.13
$106.25
premium
$4.89
$59.56
$119.12
diesel
$5.61
$68.33
$136.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.9
1
$32.50
$14.86
Efficient EV
77.4
0
$27.08
$12.38
EV Truck/SUV
123.8
1
$43.33
$19.81
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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
Night
in Council Bluffs on Friday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Epworth, IA
Night
in Epworth on Friday
Local time
11:21 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
6h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Epworth, IA covers 309.5 miles and takes about 6h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 154.7 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 $48.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 309.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 138.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Council Bluffs, IA and Epworth, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Marion.
