Origin
Lisbon, IA
Night in Lisbon on Wednesday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lisbon, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 6m
Distance
258.1 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$40
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 53m
★
6 AM
4h 6m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 31m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lisbon, IA
Bob Jenkin
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lisbon, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 258.1 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Kirkwood Boulevard, Lincoln Highway, Highway 1 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
129.1 miles from Lisbon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 6m drive with frequent turns across 258.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Kirkwood Boulevard 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 6m 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 Lisbon, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Kirkwood Boulevard | — | — |
| Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| Highway 1 | — | — |
| North Market Street | — | — |
| North Dodge Street | — | — |
| I 80 West | — | — |
| US 6 | — | — |
| East Kanesville Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Kirkwood Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lisbon, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto West Kirkwood Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Kirkwood Boulevard
3
Continue on Lincoln Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Highway
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward State Highway 1
207 ft
·
10 sec
·
State Highway 1
5
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 1
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 1
6
Continue on Highway 1 Northeast
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
7
Continue on North Market Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Market Street
8
Continue on Highway 1 Northeast
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
9
Continue on North Dodge Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
North Dodge Street
10
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
11
Merge slight left
122 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
96 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
14
Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
15
Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
16
Continue on East Broadway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Broadway
17
Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
18
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Broadway
19
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 129.1 miles from Lisbon, IA, or about 2h 3m 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 57 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.1 miles or 2h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Council Bluffs, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lisbon, 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 Lisbon, IA
This is one driving day of about 258.1 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Lisbon, 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 129.1 mi from Lisbon, IA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129.1 miles from Lisbon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Council Bluffs, IA
The final approach into Council Bluffs, 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 Council Bluffs, 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
$40.35 one way
$80.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $44.30 | $88.61 |
| premium | $4.89 | $49.67 | $99.34 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.99 | $113.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.4 | 0 | $27.10 | $12.39 |
| Efficient EV | 64.5 | 0 | $22.58 | $10.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.2 | 1 | $36.13 | $16.52 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Council Bluffs, IA
Night in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
27 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
4h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lisbon, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 258.1 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Kirkwood Boulevard, Lincoln Highway, Highway 1. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.1 miles from Lisbon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $40.35 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 6m 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 Lisbon, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lisbon, IA to Council Bluffs, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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