Origin
Le Mars, IA
Late night in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
2:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Le Mars, IA to Urbandale, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
3h 27m
Distance
201 mi
324 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 16m
★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 36m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 38m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Le Mars, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Le Mars, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 201 miles and takes about 3h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Central Avenue, Plymouth Street Northwest, Plymouth Street Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.42 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
100.5 miles from Le Mars, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 201 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 27m drive with frequent turns across 201 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Central 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 27m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Le Mars, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Central Avenue | — | — |
| Plymouth Street Northwest | — | — |
| Plymouth Street Southwest | — | — |
| Plymouth Street West | — | — |
| Highway 3 | — | — |
| US 75 | — | — |
| I 29 | — | — |
| I 29 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Central Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Le Mars, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on 1st Street Northeast
240 ft
·
16 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto Central Avenue
440 ft
·
19 sec
·
Central Avenue
3
Turn right onto Plymouth Street Northwest
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Plymouth Street Northwest
4
Continue on Plymouth Street Southwest
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Plymouth Street Southwest
5
Continue on Plymouth Street West
367 ft
·
6 sec
·
Plymouth Street West
6
Continue on State Highway 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 3
7
Take the ramp left toward US 75
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
US 75
8
Merge slight left
28 mi
·
33 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
73 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
11
Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 880 East: Des Moines
12
Continue straight
16 mi
·
17 min
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines
0.7 mi
·
44 sec
·
I 80 East: Des Moines
14
Merge slight right
95 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
17
Turn sharp left onto 73rd Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
73rd Street
18
Continue on 72nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
72nd Street
19
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Roseland Drive
20
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft
·
11 sec
·
70th Street
21
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Maryland Drive
22
Arrive at your destination
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 100.5 miles from Le Mars, IA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
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 44 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.5 miles or 1h 43m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, IA
This is one driving day of about 201 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Le Mars, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.5 mi from Le Mars, IA · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.5 miles from Le Mars, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Urbandale, 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
$31.42 one way
$62.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.50 | $69.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.68 | $77.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.38 | $88.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.10 | $9.65 |
| Efficient EV | 50.3 | 0 | $17.59 | $8.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.4 | 1 | $28.14 | $12.86 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
Late night in Urbandale on Friday
Local time
2:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
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
3h 27m 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 Le Mars, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 201 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Central Avenue, Plymouth Street Northwest, Plymouth Street Southwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.5 miles from Le Mars, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.42 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 27m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Le Mars, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Le Mars, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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