The drive from Garner, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 114.8 miles and takes about 2h 24m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, Sage Avenue, US 69 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.4 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.95 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
57.4 miles from Garner, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 114.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 24m highway drive covering 114.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and Sage Avenue. The longest continuous stretch is about 65.4 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 65.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Sage Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near State Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 12 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 (State Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles (US 69): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|State Street
Turn right onto State Street
Navigation decision point
4
27.6 mi into trip|~38m in|US 69
Turn left onto US 69
Navigation decision point
5
46.5 mi into trip|~1h 6m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
105.5 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
111.9 mi into trip|~2h 17m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Garner, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Davenport.
Council Bluffs
105.5 mi in|~2h 10m|via I 35
Davenport
105.5 mi in|~2h 10m|via I 35
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
65.4 mi
1h 11m
Sage Avenue
26.7 mi
36m
US 69
15 mi
20m
190th Street
3.4 mi
5m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
US 18
0.6 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 65.4 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Garner, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on East 3rd Street
69 ft·5 sec·East 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto State Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·State Street
3
Turn left onto US 18
0.6 mi·1 min·US 18
4
Turn left onto US 69
27 mi·36 min·Sage Avenue
5
Turn left onto US 69
15 mi·20 min·US 69
6
Turn left onto CR D20
3.4 mi·5 min·190th Street
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward Somerset Road
8
Merge onto I 35
59 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·7 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
12
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
13
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
14
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
15
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
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 57.4 miles from Garner, IA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.4 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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.4 miles or 1h 18m 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 58m
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 Garner, 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 Garner, IA
This is one driving day of about 114.8 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Garner, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 65.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 57.4 mi from Garner, IA
· 1h 18m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.4
0
$12.05
$5.51
Efficient EV
28.7
0
$10.05
$4.59
EV Truck/SUV
45.9
0
$16.07
$7.35
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Garner, IA
Morning
in Garner on Saturday
Local time
9:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Morning
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
9:23 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
2h 24m 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 Garner, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 114.8 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, Sage Avenue, US 69. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.4 miles from Garner, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.95 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (State Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.6 miles (US 69): Navigation decision point; at 46.5 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Garner, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Davenport.
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.
