Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
32.2 mi
52 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Malvern, IA
Yusuf Çelik
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Malvern, IA covers 32.2 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US Highway 34, I 29, South Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.7 miles on US Highway 34. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 32.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 47m highway drive covering 32.2 miles, with most of the trip on US Highway 34 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.7 miles on US Highway 34.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 34 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near South 16th Street.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 32.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (South 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (5th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (South 7th Street): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South 16th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 South: Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit onto US 275 toward US 34, US 275 South: South Bellevue, Glenwood
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Council Bluffs, IA and Malvern, IA, road signs point toward Kansas City and Glenwood.
Kansas City
Glenwood
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 34 | 12.7 mi | 18m |
| I 29 | 12.3 mi | 13m |
| South Expressway | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| US 275 | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| County Highway L63 | 1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Malvern, IA.
Start on West Broadway
Turn left onto South 16th Street
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
Turn right onto South 7th Street
Turn slight left onto South Expressway
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 29
Take the exit onto US 275
Keep slight left at fork onto US 275
Merge onto US 34; US 275
Turn right onto County Highway L63
Continue on Main Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.1 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.1 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Malvern, 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.
Regular Gas
$5.03 one way
$10.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.53 | $11.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.20 | $12.39 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.11 | $14.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.55 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.82 | $1.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.51 | $2.06 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Clear
Destination
Morning in Malvern on Saturday
Local time
7:41 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
77°F
Bellevue, NE
16 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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