Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
12:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Emmetsburg, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 4m
Distance
178 mi
286 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 52m
★
6 AM
4h 5m
8 AM
4h 31m
10 AM
4h 14m
12 PM
4h 11m
3 PM
4h 15m
5 PM
4h 30m
8 PM
3h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Emmetsburg, IA
Christiyana Krüger
Trip Overview
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Emmetsburg, IA covers 178 miles and takes about 4h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, 220th Avenue, County Road F50 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 29.7 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.83 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
89 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| 220th Avenue | 22.6 mi | 30m |
| County Road F50 | 17.4 mi | 24m |
| Fox Avenue | 17.2 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 39 | 17.1 mi | 23m |
| South 6th Street | 17 mi | 24m |
| I 29 | 14.9 mi | 16m |
| 460th Avenue | 13 mi | 17m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 29.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Emmetsburg, 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
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 29
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward Loveland
6
Turn left onto CR G12
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Desoto Avenue
7
At end of road, turn left onto CR L20
0.6 mi
·
46 sec
·
Old Lincoln Highway
8
Continue on CR L20
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Loess Hills Trail
9
Continue on South 6th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South 6th Street
10
Turn right onto US 30
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Erie Street
11
Continue on US 30
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Lincoln Highway
12
Continue on US 30
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
South Maple Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 30
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West 7th Street
14
Continue on US 30
17 mi
·
24 min
·
County Road F50
15
Continue on US 30
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 3rd Street
16
Continue on US 30
17 mi
·
23 min
·
South 6th Street
17
Turn straight onto US 30; US 59; IA 141
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
260th Street
18
Continue on US 59; IA 141
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
19
Turn right onto IA 39
17 mi
·
23 min
·
State Highway 39
20
Continue on IA 39
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
400th Street
21
Continue on IA 39
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Fox Avenue
22
Continue on IA 39
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Des Moines Street
23
Continue on IA 39
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Fox Avenue
24
Turn right onto US 20
30 mi
·
34 min
·
220th Street
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
Toward IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas
26
Turn left onto IA 4
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Marshall Avenue
27
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 4
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Marshall Avenue
28
Continue on IA 4
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marengo Avenue
29
Continue on IA 4; IA 7
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South East Street
30
Continue on IA 4; IA 7
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Marengo Avenue
31
Continue on IA 4; IA 7
11 mi
·
15 min
·
220th Avenue
32
Continue on IA 4
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Southwest 7th Street
33
Continue on IA 4
11 mi
·
15 min
·
220th Avenue
34
Continue on IA 4
13 mi
·
17 min
·
460th Avenue
35
Continue on IA 4
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Street
36
Turn left onto US 18; IA 4
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Main Street
37
Turn right onto Lawler Street
332 ft
·
12 sec
·
Lawler Street
38
Turn left onto 8th Street
87 ft
·
3 sec
·
8th Street
39
Arrive at destination
8th Street
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 89 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 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 39 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89 miles or 2h 5m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Emmetsburg, 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 178 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 29.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 178 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 16th Street
Turn right onto North 16th Street
Navigation decision point
5
17.8 mi into trip
|
~22m in
|
CR L20 / Old Lincoln Highway
At end of road, turn left onto CR L20 / Old Lincoln Highway
Navigation decision point
5
131.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 4: Rockwell City, Pocahontas
5
177.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
|
Lawler Street
Turn right onto Lawler Street
Navigation decision point
5
178 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m in
|
8th Street
Turn left onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.83 one way
$55.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.55 | $61.11 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.25 | $68.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.30 | $78.60 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.4 | 0 | $18.69 | $8.54 |
| Efficient EV | 44.5 | 0 | $15.58 | $7.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.2 | 0 | $24.92 | $11.39 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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
Emmetsburg, IA
Afternoon in Emmetsburg on Saturday
Local time
12:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Denison, IA
89 mi in
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
8 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
4h 4m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
178 mi in 4h 4m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.7 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near North 16th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 4m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (CR L20 / Old Lincoln Highway): Navigation decision point; at 131.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Council Bluffs, IA and Emmetsburg, IA, road signs point toward Loveland and Pocahontas.
Loveland
17.1 mi in
|
~20m
Pocahontas
131.4 mi in
|
~2h 57m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 178 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (18%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.7 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (North 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 17.8 miles (CR L20 / Old Lincoln Highway): Navigation decision point; at 131.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Emmetsburg, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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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