Origin
Indiana, IA
Evening in Indiana on Friday
Local time
7:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Indiana, IA to Manson, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 14m
Distance
163.9 mi
264 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 3m
★
6 AM
3h 15m
8 AM
3h 38m
10 AM
3h 23m
12 PM
3h 21m
3 PM
3h 24m
5 PM
3h 37m
8 PM
3h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Manson, IA
Dany Castrejon
Trip Overview
The drive from Indiana, IA to Manson, IA covers 163.9 miles and takes about 3h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, US 20, State Highway 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.62 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
82 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 163.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 14m highway drive covering 163.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and US 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 55 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 25 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 55 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 163.9 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 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
48.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
7
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
6
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35 toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
5
162.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 11m in
|
IA 7 / 190th Street
At end of road, turn right onto IA 7 / 190th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 55 mi | 59m |
| US 20 | 50.6 mi | 58m |
| State Highway 5 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| IA 5 | 17 mi | 21m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 10.3 mi | 11m |
| Tabor Avenue | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
| Sigourney Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 55 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Manson, 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
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 5
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto US 65
10 mi
·
11 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
10
Merge onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
this road
Exit 137B
Toward I-35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
55 mi
·
59 min
·
I 35
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
16
Merge onto US 20
51 mi
·
58 min
·
US 20
17
Turn right onto CR N65
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Sigourney Avenue
18
At end of road, turn right onto D26
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
220th Street
19
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Tabor Avenue
20
At end of road, turn right onto IA 7
25 ft
·
5 sec
·
190th Street
21
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Tabor Avenue
22
Continue on 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
8th Street
23
Turn right onto 10th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Avenue
24
Turn right onto Main Street
35 ft
·
1 sec
·
Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
Main Street
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 82 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55 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 36 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82 miles or 1h 37m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manson, 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 163.9 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 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 35 for about 55 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 82 mi from Indiana, IA · 1h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 82 miles from Indiana, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Manson, IA
The final approach into Manson, 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 Manson, 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
$25.62 one way
$51.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.13 | $56.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $31.54 | $63.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.19 | $72.37 |
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: 57.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.2 | 0 | $17.21 | $7.87 |
| Efficient EV | 41 | 0 | $14.34 | $6.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.6 | 0 | $22.95 | $10.49 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Manson, IA
Evening in Manson on Friday
Local time
7:05 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
23 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 14m 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 Manson, IA covers 163.9 miles and takes about 3h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, US 20, State Highway 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 82 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 $25.62 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 163.9 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 50.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Indiana, IA to Manson, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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