Origin
Earlham, IA
Evening in Earlham on Wednesday
Local time
6:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
1h 38m
Distance
101.7 mi
164 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 31m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Earlham, IA
Clément Proust
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 101.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northwest 2nd Street, North Chestnut Avenue, County Road P57 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.90 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
50.9 miles from Earlham, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 38m drive with frequent turns across 101.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northwest 2nd Street 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is easy. At 1h 38m 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 Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northwest 2nd Street | — | — |
| North Chestnut Avenue | — | — |
| County Road P57 | — | — |
| I Avenue | — | — |
| I-80 west | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| US 6 | — | — |
| East Kanesville Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Northwest 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Earlham, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on Northwest Locust Avenue
240 ft
·
13 sec
·
Northwest Locust Avenue
2
Turn right onto Northwest 2nd Street
387 ft
·
22 sec
·
Northwest 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto North Chestnut Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Chestnut Avenue
4
Continue on County Road P57
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
County Road P57
5
Continue on I Avenue
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I Avenue
6
Take the ramp left toward I-80 west: Council Bluffs
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I-80 west: Council Bluffs
7
Merge slight left
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
10
Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
11
Continue on East Broadway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Broadway
12
Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
13
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Broadway
14
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 50.9 miles from Earlham, IA, or about 49m 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 22 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.9 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Council Bluffs, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Earlham, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Earlham, IA
This is one driving day of about 101.7 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Earlham, 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 50.9 mi from Earlham, IA · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.9 miles from Earlham, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Council Bluffs, IA
The final approach into Council Bluffs, 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
$15.90 one way
$31.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.46 | $34.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.57 | $39.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.45 | $44.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.5 | 0 | $10.68 | $4.88 |
| Efficient EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.24 | $6.51 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Council Bluffs, IA
Evening in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
6:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Avoca, IA
51 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
25 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
1h 38m 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 Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 101.7 miles and takes about 1h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northwest 2nd Street, North Chestnut Avenue, County Road P57. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 50.9 miles from Earlham, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.90 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 Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is easy. At 1h 38m 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 Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Earlham, IA to Council Bluffs, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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