Origin
Ely, IA
Afternoon in Ely on Thursday
Local time
12:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ely, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
252.4 mi
406 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 3m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 21m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ely, IA
Yusuf Çelik
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ely, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 252.4 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Street, Ely Road, Wright Brothers Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.46 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
126.2 miles from Ely, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 252.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m 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 3h 56m drive with frequent turns across 252.4 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.
State 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 3h 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ely, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Street | — | — |
| Ely Road | — | — |
| Wright Brothers Boulevard | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| I 80 | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| US 6 | — | — |
| East Kanesville Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
State Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ely, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on Dows Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Dows Street
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
3
Continue on Ely Road
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Ely Road
4
Turn left onto Wright Brothers Boulevard
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Wright Brothers Boulevard
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 80
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 80
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Des Moines
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 West: Des Moines
9
Merge slight left
115 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
10
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
96 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
13
Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
14
Continue on East Broadway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Broadway
15
Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
16
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Broadway
17
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 126.2 miles from Ely, IA, or about 1h 58m 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 56 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.2 miles or 1h 58m 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 14m
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 Ely, 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 Ely, IA
This is one driving day of about 252.4 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Ely, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 126.2 mi from Ely, IA · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
126 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 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 126.2 miles from Ely, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Council Bluffs, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.46 one way
$78.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
88 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $43.33 | $86.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $48.57 | $97.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $55.73 | $111.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 75.7 | 0 | $26.50 | $12.12 |
| Efficient EV | 63.1 | 0 | $22.09 | $10.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 101 | 1 | $35.34 | $16.15 |
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Thursday
Local time
12:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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 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 56m 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 Ely, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 252.4 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Street, Ely Road, Wright Brothers Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 126.2 miles from Ely, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $39.46 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 56m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Ely, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Ely, IA to Council Bluffs, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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