Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Morning in Council Bluffs on Friday
Local time
6:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Akron, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
122.5 mi
197 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Akron, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Akron, IA covers 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, State Highway 12, State Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.15 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.
Midpoint
61.2 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 122.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 24m highway drive covering 122.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and State Highway 12. The longest continuous stretch is about 94 miles on I 29.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 94 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and State Highway 12. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 16th Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Akron, IA is easy. At 2h 24m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 96.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 16th Street
Turn right onto North 16th Street
Navigation decision point
3
2.2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 29
Merge onto I 29
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
96.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward IA 12 North: Riverside Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward IA 12 North: Riverside Boulevard
4
96.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Turn right onto IA 12 / Riverside Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
122.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
North 2nd Street
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 94 mi | 1h 41m |
| State Highway 12 | 16.2 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 3 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
| Sioux River Road | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| Riverside Boulevard | 2 mi | 4m |
| North 16th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Broadway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Portland Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 94 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Akron, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Broadway
2
Turn right onto North 16th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North 16th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
4
Merge onto I 29
94 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
I 29
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward IA 12 North: Riverside Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
6
Turn right onto IA 12
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Riverside Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on IA 12
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Sioux River Road
8
Continue on IA 12
15 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 12
9
Continue on IA 12
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Portland Street
10
Continue on IA 12
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
State Highway 12
11
Continue on IA 3; IA 12
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
12
Continue on IA 12
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
State Highway 12
13
Turn right onto Reed Street
277 ft
·
17 sec
·
Reed Street
14
Turn left onto North 2nd Street
54 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 2nd Street
15
Arrive at destination
North 2nd Street
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 61.2 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94 miles.
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 27 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.2 miles or 1h 8m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Akron, 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 122.5 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Council Bluffs, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 94 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.2 mi from Council Bluffs, IA · 1h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.2 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 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94 miles.
Arriving in Akron, IA
The final approach into Akron, 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 Akron, 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
$19.15 one way
$38.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.03 | $42.06 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.57 | $47.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.05 | $54.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.86 | $5.88 |
| Efficient EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.72 | $4.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49 | 0 | $17.15 | $7.84 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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
Akron, IA
Morning in Akron on Friday
Local time
6:51 AM
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
2h 24m 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 Akron, IA covers 122.5 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, State Highway 12, State Highway 3. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.2 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 $19.15 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 Akron, IA is easy. At 2h 24m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.2 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 96.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Council Bluffs, IA to Akron, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Akron, IA
More trips to Akron, IA
Explore more options from Council Bluffs, IA or browse trips ending in Akron, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.