Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
1:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Rockwell City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h
Distance
135.5 mi
218 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 49m
★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 9m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Rockwell City, IA
Kelly
Trip Overview
The drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Rockwell City, IA covers 135.5 miles and takes about 3h 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, US 6 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.18 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
67.8 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Broadway | — | — |
| West Kanesville Boulevard | — | — |
| US 6 | — | — |
| 650th Street | — | — |
| Highway 71 | — | — |
| Lincoln Street | — | — |
| South Market Street | — | — |
| County Road F32 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Broadway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Rockwell City, 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
51 mi
·
55 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
7
Turn left onto 650th Street
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
650th Street
8
Continue on Highway 71
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 71
9
Continue on Lincoln Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street
10
Continue on Highway 71
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 71
11
Continue on South Market Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
South Market Street
12
Continue on County Road F32
12 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road F32
13
Turn right onto George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
14
Turn left
24 mi
·
34 min
15
At the end of the road, turn right onto 370th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
370th Street
16
Continue on 365th Street
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
365th Street
17
Continue on State Highway 175
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 175
18
Continue on State Highway 175
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 175
19
Continue on West Main Street
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
20
Continue on 360th Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
360th Street
21
Turn left onto Norridge Avenue
8.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Norridge Avenue
22
Turn right onto Tonawanda Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Tonawanda Avenue
23
Turn left onto 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street
24
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 67.8 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 1h 30m 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 30 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.8 miles or 1h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rockwell City, 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 135.5 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.8 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.18 one way
$42.37 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.26 | $46.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.08 | $52.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.92 | $59.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.23 | $6.50 |
| Efficient EV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.86 | $5.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.97 | $8.67 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Rockwell City, IA
Afternoon in Rockwell City on Saturday
Local time
1:09 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
3h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
135.5 mi in 3h across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: West Broadway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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.
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 Rockwell City, IA is easy. At 3h 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 Rockwell City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 135.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Council Bluffs, IA to Rockwell City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Rockwell City, 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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Return Trip
Rockwell City, IA to Council Bluffs, IAPlan the drive back the other way.
134.7 mi
2h 57m
Continue From Rockwell City, IA
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