Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 21m
Distance
272.7 mi
439 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Nashua, IA
Andhika Indra Pratama
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Nashua, IA covers 272.7 miles and takes about 5h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 35, State Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.2 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.63 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
136.4 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 128.2 mi | 2h 18m |
| I 35 | 79 mi | 1h 25m |
| State Highway 3 | 18.1 mi | 24m |
| 210th Street | 15.7 mi | 21m |
| 140th Street | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| West Kanesville Boulevard | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Spring Avenue | 4 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Nashua, IA.
Start on West Broadway
Continue on West Broadway
Continue on West Kanesville Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
Take the exit
Turn right onto IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
Continue on IA 3
Turn left onto IA 188
Continue on IA 188
Continue on IA 188
Turn right onto IA 188
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
Take the exit
Turn right onto IA 346
Turn right onto Main Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 60 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.4 miles or 2h 32m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nashua, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 272.7 miles and 5h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
136 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 60 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 136.4 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 257.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto IA 188 / 140th Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$42.63 one way
$85.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $46.81 | $93.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $52.48 | $104.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $60.21 | $120.42 |
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: 95.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 81.8 | 1 | $28.63 | $13.09 |
| Efficient EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.86 | $10.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.1 | 1 | $38.18 | $17.45 |
Gas CO2
95 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
1:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
1:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
272.7 mi in 5h 21m, mostly highway — 128.2 mi of that is on I 80.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
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 272.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Nashua, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Clarion.
Minneapolis
Kansas City
Des Moines
Clarion
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 272.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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