The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 145 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 63, US 34, I 80 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 69.4 miles on US 63.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.67 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
72.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 145 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 53m highway drive covering 145 miles, with most of the trip on US 63 and US 34. The longest continuous stretch is about 69.4 miles on US 63.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 69.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 63 and US 34. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 34 Business / West Washington Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 34 Business / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (US 34 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 34 Business / West Washington Street
Turn left onto US 34 Business / West Washington Street
Navigation decision point
4
4 mi into trip|~6m in|US 34 Business
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business toward US 34, IA 163 West: Fairfield, Ottumwa
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 34, IA 163 West: Fairfield, Ottumwa
5
132.8 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
5
133.9 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
142.1 mi into trip|~2h 47m in
Take the exit toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
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.
Exit 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville...
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
69.4 mi
1h 20m
US 34
54.5 mi
1h 2m
I 80
8.1 mi
9m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
3.8 mi
4m
235th Street
2.4 mi
3m
West Washington Street
1.3 mi
2m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 69.4 mi, about 1h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on South White Street
0.2 mi·41 sec·South White Street
2
Turn left onto US 34 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·West Washington Street
3
Continue on US 34 Business
2.4 mi·3 min·235th Street
4
Take the ramp onto US 34 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·US 34 Business
Toward US 34, IA 163 West: Fairfield, Ottumwa
5
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
55 mi·1 hr 2 min·US 34; IA 163
6
Continue on US 63; IA 163
69 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 63; IA 163
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
8
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi·4 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit
1.2 mi·1 min
Exit 84Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
10
Merge onto I 80
8.1 mi·9 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
13
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
14
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
15
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.4 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 32 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 19m
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 Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, IA
This is one driving day of about 145 miles and 2h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 US 63 for about 69.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.5 mi from Mount Pleasant, IA
· 1h 26m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.67 one way
$45.34 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.89
$49.78
premium
$4.89
$27.90
$55.81
diesel
$5.61
$32.01
$64.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Grimes, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Urbandale, Iowa
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Grimes, Iowa
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge: 1
Other: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.5
0
$15.23
$6.96
Efficient EV
36.3
0
$12.69
$5.80
EV Truck/SUV
58
0
$20.30
$9.28
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Mount Pleasant, IA
Late night
in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Late night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
2:47 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
22 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 53m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 145 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, US 34, I 80. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.5 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.67 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.
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 2h 53m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 34 Business / West Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4 miles (US 34 Business): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Mount Pleasant, IA to Urbandale, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
