Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Monday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Waterloo, IA
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
255.9 mi
412 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Tom Fisk
Waterloo, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 255.9 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Broadway, West Kanesville Boulevard, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $38.87 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
127.9 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 56m drive with frequent turns across 255.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Broadway 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Broadway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Kanesville Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 6 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marsh Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Waterloo, 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
4
Take the ramp slight left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
5
Merge slight left
114 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
7
Keep slight left
4.5 mi
·
5 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
9
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Turn left onto Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
12
Continue on South Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
13
Continue on 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
14
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
15
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
16
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
17
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
18
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
19
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
20
Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 20 East: Waterloo
21
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
20 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 63: Sergeant Road
23
Turn slight right
121 ft
·
6 sec
24
Turn straight onto Sergeant Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
25
Turn right onto University Avenue
387 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
26
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
27
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
28
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
29
Turn right onto West 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.9 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 1h 58m 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 80 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.9 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, 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 255.9 miles and 3h 56m.
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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 127.9 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
128 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 127.9 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
The final approach into Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, 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
$38.87 one way
$77.74 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $42.85 | $85.70 |
| premium | $4.80 | $48.31 | $96.62 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $56.85 | $113.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.87 | $12.28 |
| Efficient EV | 64 | 0 | $22.39 | $10.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 102.4 | 1 | $35.83 | $16.38 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Monday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°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
13 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
3h 56m 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 Waterloo, IA covers 255.9 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Broadway, West Kanesville Boulevard, I 35. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 127.9 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 $38.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Council Bluffs, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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