Origin
Hartley, IA
Late night in Hartley on Wednesday
Local time
4:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hartley, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
3h 23m
Distance
173.1 mi
279 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 11m
★
6 AM
3h 23m
8 AM
3h 47m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 29m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 46m
8 PM
3h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hartley, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hartley, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 173.1 miles and takes about 3h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IA 60, US 75, 320th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34.4 miles on IA 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.06 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
86.6 miles from Hartley, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
The drive from Hartley, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 173.1 miles and takes about 3h 23m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 17.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles (IA 60): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
17.4 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the ramp toward IA 60
Navigation decision point
Toward IA 60
5
17.7 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
IA 60
Merge onto IA 60
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
82.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
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.
Toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
6
82.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gatewa...
6
172.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 21m in
|
West Broadway
Turn left onto West Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hartley, IA to Council Bluffs, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sioux Gateway Airport along the way.
Sioux Gateway Airport
82.6 mi in
|
~1h 42m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 60 | 34.4 mi | 39m |
| US 75 | 30.1 mi | 36m |
| 320th Street | 16.4 mi | 23m |
| North 16th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| West Broadway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| US-18 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| South Central Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street Southeast | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 60
— 34.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hartley, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on 1st Street Southeast
26 ft
·
3 sec
·
1st Street Southeast
2
Turn right onto South Central Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 18
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
320th Street
4
Continue on US 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US-18
5
Continue on US 18
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
320th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward IA 60
7
Merge onto IA 60
34 mi
·
39 min
·
IA 60
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on US 75
30 mi
·
36 min
·
US 75
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
88 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
Toward I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
12
Continue on North 16th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North 16th Street
13
Turn left onto West Broadway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on West Broadway
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Broadway
15
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
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 86.6 miles from Hartley, IA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 80 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 46m 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 46m
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 Hartley, 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 Hartley, IA
This is one driving day of about 173.1 miles and 3h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hartley, 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.
The longest stretch is on IA 60 for about 34.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.6 mi from Hartley, IA · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.6 miles from Hartley, 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
$27.06 one way
$54.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.71 | $59.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.31 | $66.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.22 | $76.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.9 | 0 | $18.18 | $8.31 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.15 | $6.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.23 | $11.08 |
Gas CO2
61 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
Council Bluffs, IA
Late night in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
4:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
38 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 23m 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 Hartley, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 173.1 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 60, US 75, 320th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.6 miles from Hartley, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.06 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 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 17.7 miles (IA 60): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 82.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Hartley, IA to Council Bluffs, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sioux Gateway Airport along the way.
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