Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Morning in Iowa Falls on Thursday
Local time
10:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 25m
Distance
86 mi
138 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 25m
8 AM
1h 38m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 86 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 86 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 25m drive with frequent turns across 86 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Rocksylvania Avenue 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 1h 25m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Rocksylvania Avenue | — | — |
| Oak Street | — | — |
| US 20 West | — | — |
| I 35 South | — | — |
| IA 28 South | — | — |
| Merle Hay Road | — | — |
| Meredith Drive | — | — |
| 70th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Rocksylvania Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft
·
11 sec
·
Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto Oak Street
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Oak Street
4
Take the ramp right toward US 20 West
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
US 20 West
5
Merge slight left
15 mi
·
17 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
7
Merge slight left
55 mi
·
59 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
9
Take the exit slight right toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
10
Turn left onto Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Merle Hay Road
11
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Meredith Drive
12
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
13
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Maryland Drive
14
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43 mi from Iowa Falls, IA · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.45 one way
$26.89 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.76 | $29.52 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.55 | $33.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.99 | $37.98 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.03 | $4.13 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.04 | $5.50 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Morning in Urbandale on Thursday
Local time
10:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 25m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 86 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Rocksylvania Avenue, Oak Street, US 20 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43 miles from Iowa Falls, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.45 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.
The drive from Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 1h 25m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa Falls, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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