Origin
Jefferson, IA
Night in Jefferson on Wednesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, IA to Indiana, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 23m
Distance
112.3 mi
181 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 14m
★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 43m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 42m
8 PM
2h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Trip Overview
This 112.3-mile drive from Jefferson, IA to Indiana, IA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily navigate using IA 5 and George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, with a portion on Northwest Granger Drive also in the mix. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $18, making it an economical option for a quick excursion within the Midwest. Given its manageable distance and duration, it’s ideal for a day trip, allowing you to enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed. This route offers a practical way to travel between two points in Iowa, keeping you on familiar roads for the most part.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.2 miles from Jefferson, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 40% of your journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on IA 5, including a continuous segment of 36 miles, which offers a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. The roads will likely shift between quicker highway driving and more local road segments as you make your way to Indiana, IA. This variation means you'll experience different driving conditions, keeping the journey engaging without being overly demanding. It’s a drive that balances efficiency with a more grounded, local feel.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
IA 5 is the longest continuous segment at about 36 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 52.1 miles in.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 112.3 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 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
52.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas 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-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Coun...
5
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
6
56 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
|
I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
60.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68
Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport,...
5
110.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
|
CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jefferson, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Norwalk.
Council Bluffs
52.1 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Des Moines
60.6 mi in
|
~1h 19m
Norwalk
60.6 mi in
|
~1h 19m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 5 | 36 mi | 44m |
| George P. Soumas Memorial Highway | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 12.9 mi | 14m |
| Neola Avenue | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| I 35 | 4.6 mi | 5m |
| I 80 | 3.3 mi | 3m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 36 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on West Lincolnway Street
22 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Lincolnway Street
2
Turn right onto IA 4
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Elm Street
3
Continue on IA 4
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
N Avenue
4
Continue on South Elm Street
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Elm Street
5
Continue on IA 4
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Neola Avenue
6
Continue on IA 4
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 4
7
At end of road, turn left onto IA 4; IA 141
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 141
17 mi
·
23 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
9
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
10
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
11
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
12
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
13
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 35
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 68
Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
Use the slight right lane.
18
Continue on IA 5
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
20
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi
·
11 min
·
IA 5; IA 92
21
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5
22
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
IA 5
23
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
County Highway G76
24
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
25
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Trip Plan
With a total travel time of just over two hours, this trip from Jefferson to Indiana, IA offers a lot of flexibility for when you depart. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, so you can leave whenever it suits your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 36-mile stretch on IA 5, as services might be less frequent during that segment. The estimated fuel cost of $18 suggests that topping up before you leave Jefferson would be a wise move. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief break as needed to stay refreshed.
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 56.2 miles from Jefferson, IA, or about 1h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36 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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.2 miles or 1h 14m 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 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jefferson, 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 Jefferson, IA
This is one driving day of about 112.3 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Jefferson, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 36 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.2 mi from Jefferson, IA · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 56.2 miles from Jefferson, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Indiana, IA
The final approach into Indiana, 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 Indiana, 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
$17.56 one way
$35.11 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.28 | $38.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.61 | $43.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.79 | $49.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.79 | $5.39 |
| Efficient EV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.83 | $4.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.9 | 0 | $15.72 | $7.19 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Indiana, IA
Night in Indiana on Wednesday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Norwalk, IA
56 mi in
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
3 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 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 Jefferson, IA to Indiana, IA covers 112.3 miles and takes about 2h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 5, George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, Northwest Granger Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.2 miles from Jefferson, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.56 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 demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 112.3 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 52.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Jefferson, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Des Moines and Norwalk.
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