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Trip from Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

96.9 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Eagle Grove, IA, IA

Eagle Grove, IA

Tom Fisk

city in Polk and Dallas counties, Iowa, United States

Urbandale, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 96.9 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Commercial Avenue, Highway 17, Stagecoach Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.15 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

48.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 96.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 96.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Commercial Avenue 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. 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 Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 1h 36m 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 Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Commercial Avenue
Highway 17
Stagecoach Road
220th Street
US 20 East
I 35 South
IA 28 South
Merle Hay Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Commercial Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Grove, IA and Urbandale, IA.

1

Start on West Broadway Street

30 ft · 9 sec · West Broadway Street
2

Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Commercial Avenue
3

Continue on State Highway 17

6.7 mi · 9 min · State Highway 17
4

Continue on Stagecoach Road

5.9 mi · 8 min · Stagecoach Road
5

At the end of the road, turn left onto 220th Street

0.4 mi · 37 sec · 220th Street
6

Turn right onto Stagecoach Road

1.7 mi · 2 min · Stagecoach Road
7

Take the ramp left toward US 20 East

0.4 mi · 48 sec · US 20 East
8

Merge slight left

16 mi · 18 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Des Moines

0.7 mi · 1 min · I 35 South: Des Moines
10

Merge slight left

54 mi · 59 min
11

Keep slight right to continue on I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

6.4 mi · 7 min · I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
12

Take the exit slight right toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake

0.4 mi · 48 sec · IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
13

Turn left onto Merle Hay Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Merle Hay Road
14

Turn right onto Meredith Drive

0.8 mi · 1 min · Meredith Drive
15

Turn left onto 70th Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · 70th Street
16

Turn left onto Maryland Drive

13 ft · 1 sec · Maryland Drive
17

Arrive at your destination

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 48.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, or about 48m 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 21 miles or 20m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 48.5 miles or 48m 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 18m

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 Eagle Grove, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Eagle Grove, IA

This is one driving day of about 96.9 miles and 1h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Eagle Grove, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 48.5 mi from Eagle Grove, IA · 48m into the drive

city in Story County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ames, IA

48 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

Oakland, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Urbandale, IA

The final approach into Urbandale, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.15 one way

$30.30 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.63 $33.27
premium $4.89 $18.65 $37.30
diesel $5.61 $21.39 $42.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29.1 0 $10.17 $4.65
Efficient EV 24.2 0 $8.48 $3.88
EV Truck/SUV 38.8 0 $13.57 $6.20

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Eagle Grove, IA

Morning in Eagle Grove on Thursday

Local time

11:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Urbandale, IA

Morning in Urbandale on Thursday

Local time

11:53 AM

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

19 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

1h 36m 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 Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 96.9 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South Commercial Avenue, Highway 17, Stagecoach Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.15 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 Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Eagle Grove, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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