Origin
Indiana, IA
Evening in Indiana on Thursday
Local time
8:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Indiana, IA to Atlantic, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
129 mi
208 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 33m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Atlantic, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Indiana, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 129 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, State Highway 5, IA 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 61.6 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.17 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
64.5 miles from Indiana, 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 33m. Total distance: 129 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 33m highway drive covering 129 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and State Highway 5. The longest continuous stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 61.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 129 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 38.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IA 5
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
38.4 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
50.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
Ramp 72 J
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
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 Indiana, IA to Atlantic, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Audubon along the way.
Audubon
118.5 mi in
|
~2h 16m
|
via US 6
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 61.6 mi | 1h 6m |
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| IA 5 | 17 mi | 21m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
| 650th Street | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| I 35 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| East 7th Street | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Atlantic, IA.
1
Start on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
2
Continue on CR G76
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
County Highway G76
3
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 5
4
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi
·
12 min
·
IA 5
5
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
6
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
7
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
9
Merge onto I 35
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ramp 72 J
Exit 72B
Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 235
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
John MacVicar Freeway
12
Merge onto I 80
62 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
14
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
650th Street
15
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
16
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
266 ft
·
6 sec
·
Chestnut Street
17
Turn right
227 ft
·
16 sec
18
Arrive at 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.5 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 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 2h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlantic, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Indiana, 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 Indiana, IA
This is one driving day of about 129 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Indiana, 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 I 80 for about 61.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.5 mi from Indiana, IA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.5 miles from Indiana, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.6 miles.
Arriving in Atlantic, IA
The final approach into Atlantic, 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 Atlantic, 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
$20.17 one way
$40.34 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.14 | $44.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.82 | $49.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.48 | $56.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.54 | $6.19 |
| Efficient EV | 32.3 | 0 | $11.29 | $5.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.06 | $8.26 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Atlantic, IA
Evening in Atlantic on Thursday
Local time
8:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
22 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 33m 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 Indiana, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 129 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, State Highway 5, IA 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.5 miles from Indiana, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $20.17 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.
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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 129 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 38.4 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Indiana, IA to Atlantic, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Audubon along the way.
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