Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Monday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Sidney, IA
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
45.3 mi
73 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 17m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 11m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Tom Fisk
Sidney, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Sidney, IA covers 45.3 miles and takes about 1h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 16th Street, 5th Avenue, South 7th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.88 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
22.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 6m drive with frequent turns across 45.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 16th Street 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 Sidney, IA is easy. At 1h 6m 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 Sidney, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 16th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 5th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 29 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| CR J24 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 155 Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South 16th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Sidney, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Broadway
2
Turn left onto South 16th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
South 16th Street
3
Turn left onto 5th Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Avenue
4
Turn right onto South 7th Street
466 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 7th Street
5
Turn slight left onto South Expressway
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
South Expressway
6
Take the ramp slight right toward I 29 South, I 80 East: Des Moines, Kansas City
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 29 South, I 80 East: Des Moines, Kansas City
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 29 South: Kansas City
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 29 South: Kansas City
8
Merge slight left
28 mi
·
30 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward CR J24: Mc Paul, Thurman
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
CR J24: Mc Paul, Thurman
10
Turn left onto 155 Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
155 Street
11
Continue on North Street
2.8 mi
·
6 min
·
North Street
12
Turn right onto Fletcher Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Fletcher Street
13
Turn left onto Filmore Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Filmore Street
14
Continue on State Highway 145
3.8 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 145
15
Turn right onto US 275
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
US 275
16
Continue on Old Highway 275
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
Old Highway 275
17
Continue on Illinois Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Illinois Street
18
Turn right onto Filmore Street
62 ft
·
3 sec
·
Filmore Street
19
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 22.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 33m 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 45.3 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.7 miles or 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sidney, 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 45.3 miles and 1h 6m.
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 22.7 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 Sidney, IA
The final approach into Sidney, 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 Sidney, 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
$6.88 one way
$13.76 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $7.59 | $15.17 |
| premium | $4.80 | $8.55 | $17.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $10.06 | $20.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.17 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.1 | 0 | $6.34 | $2.90 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Sidney, IA
Afternoon in Sidney on Monday
Local time
3:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
21 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 6m 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 Sidney, IA covers 45.3 miles and takes about 1h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 16th Street, 5th Avenue, South 7th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.7 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 $6.88 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 Sidney, IA is easy. At 1h 6m 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 Sidney, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Council Bluffs, IA to Sidney, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Sidney, IA
More trips to Sidney, IA
Explore more options from Council Bluffs, IA or browse trips ending in Sidney, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Council Bluffs, IA or Sidney, IA on MapSof.net.