Origin
Estherville, IA
Afternoon in Estherville on Monday
Local time
12:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA
Drive Time
3h 7m
Distance
172.1 mi
277 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 55m
★
6 AM
3h 7m
8 AM
3h 30m
10 AM
3h 15m
12 PM
3h 13m
3 PM
3h 16m
5 PM
3h 29m
8 PM
3h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Urbandale, IA
ZaetaFlow Sec
Trip Overview
The drive from Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 4, 420th Avenue, 360th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.14 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
86.1 miles from Estherville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 7m drive with frequent turns across 172.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 4 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 Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 3h 7m 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 Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 420th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 360th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 450th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 460th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 220th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 4
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Estherville, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on South 9th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 9th Street
2
Continue on State Highway 4
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 4
3
Continue on State Highway 4
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 4
4
Continue on 420th Avenue
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
420th Avenue
5
Turn left onto 360th Street
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
360th Street
6
Continue on 450th Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Avenue
7
Continue on Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
8
Turn right onto Broadway Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Broadway Street
9
Continue on 460th Avenue
13 mi
·
18 min
·
460th Avenue
10
Continue on 220th Avenue
11 mi
·
15 min
·
220th Avenue
11
Continue on Northwest 7th Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 7th Street
12
Continue on 220th Avenue
11 mi
·
15 min
·
220th Avenue
13
Continue on Marengo Avenue
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
Marengo Avenue
14
Continue on North East Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North East Street
15
Continue on Marengo Avenue
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Marengo Avenue
16
Keep slight left to continue on Marshall Avenue
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Marshall Avenue
17
Take the ramp left toward US 20 East
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 20 East
18
Merge slight left
24 mi
·
27 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 169
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 169
20
Turn right onto Lainson Avenue
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Lainson Avenue
21
Turn left onto 360th Street
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
360th Street
22
Take the exit slight right
16 mi
·
22 min
23
Turn left onto 220th Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
220th Street
24
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
1 min
25
Turn right onto H Avenue
11 mi
·
15 min
·
H Avenue
26
Continue on N Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
27
Take the exit left toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 141 east: Urbandale
28
Continue on Northwest Granger Drive
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
29
Continue on Northwest 114th Street
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
30
Continue on Northeast Grimes Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
31
Continue on Grimes Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
32
Continue on Southeast Grimes Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
33
Continue on Northwest Urbandale Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
34
Turn left onto Meredith Drive
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Meredith Drive
35
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
36
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Maryland Drive
37
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 86.1 miles from Estherville, IA, or about 1h 33m 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 80 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.1 miles or 1h 33m 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 33m
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 Estherville, 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 Estherville, IA
This is one driving day of about 172.1 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Estherville, 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 86.1 mi from Estherville, IA · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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
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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Urbandale, 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
$26.14 one way
$52.28 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $28.82 | $57.63 |
| premium | $4.80 | $32.49 | $64.98 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $38.23 | $76.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.07 | $8.26 |
| Efficient EV | 43 | 0 | $15.06 | $6.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.8 | 0 | $24.09 | $11.01 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Urbandale, IA
Afternoon in Urbandale on Monday
Local time
12:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
2 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 7m 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 Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 4, 420th Avenue, 360th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.1 miles from Estherville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.14 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.
The drive from Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 3h 7m 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 Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Estherville, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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