The drive from De Witt, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 27m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, US 61, US 30 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.1 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.72 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
91.9 miles from De Witt, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 183.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 3h 27m highway drive covering 183.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 61. The longest continuous stretch is about 94.1 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 94.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 61. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 6th Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (6th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 181 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.9 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Avenue
Turn left onto 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
181 mi into trip|~3h 20m in
Take the exit toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville...
4
181.9 mi into trip|~3h 23m in|Meredith Drive
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
Navigation decision point
4
182.7 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|70th Street
Turn left onto 70th Street
Navigation decision point
4
183.9 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|Maryland Drive
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
94.1 mi
1h 41m
US 61
83.7 mi
1h 32m
US 30
1.8 mi
2m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
6th Avenue
1 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
8th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.1 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Witt, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on 8th Street
215 ft·12 sec·8th Street
2
Turn left onto 6th Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·6th Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
4
Merge onto US 30
1.8 mi·2 min·US 30
5
Merge onto US 61
14 mi·16 min·US 61
6
Take the exit onto US 61
70 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 61
7
Continue on I 80
94 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
10
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
11
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
12
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
13
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
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 91.9 miles from De Witt, IA, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.1 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 40 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.9 miles or 1h 44m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving De Witt, 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 De Witt, IA
This is one driving day of about 183.9 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from De Witt, 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 I 80 for about 94.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 91.9 mi from De Witt, IA
· 1h 44m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.2
0
$19.31
$8.83
Efficient EV
46
0
$16.09
$7.36
EV Truck/SUV
73.6
0
$25.75
$11.77
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
De Witt, IA
Night
in De Witt on Friday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Night
in Urbandale on Friday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 27m 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 De Witt, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 183.9 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US 61, US 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 91.9 miles from De Witt, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.75 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 27m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (6th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 181 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.9 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point.
The route from De Witt, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
