Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Sunday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Villisca, IA
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
66.4 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 38m
8 AM
1h 53m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 42m
3 PM
1h 44m
5 PM
1h 52m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Tom Fisk
Villisca, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Villisca, IA covers 66.4 miles and takes about 1h 38m 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 $10.09 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
33.2 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 38m drive with frequent turns across 66.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 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 Villisca, IA is easy. At 1h 38m 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 Villisca, 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 |
| US 34 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 34 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West High 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 Villisca, 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
12 mi
·
13 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 34, US 275 South: South Bellevue, Glenwood
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 34, US 275 South: South Bellevue, Glenwood
10
Keep slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
11
Merge slight left onto US Highway 34
45 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
US Highway 34
12
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
13
At the end of the road, turn left
2.9 mi
·
4 min
14
Turn left onto West High Street
325 ft
·
11 sec
·
West High Street
15
Turn right onto North U Avenue
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
North U Avenue
16
Turn left onto West 3rd Street
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
West 3rd Street
17
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 33.2 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 49m 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 66.4 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.2 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Villisca, 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 66.4 miles and 1h 38m.
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 33.2 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 66.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.2 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Villisca, IA
The final approach into Villisca, 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 Villisca, 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
$10.09 one way
$20.17 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $11.12 | $22.24 |
| premium | $4.80 | $12.53 | $25.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $14.75 | $29.50 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.97 | $3.19 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.81 | $2.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.6 | 0 | $9.30 | $4.25 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Villisca, IA
Afternoon in Villisca on Sunday
Local time
2:46 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
1h 38m 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 Villisca, IA covers 66.4 miles and takes about 1h 38m 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 33.2 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 $10.09 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 Villisca, IA is easy. At 1h 38m 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 Villisca, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Council Bluffs, IA to Villisca, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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