Origin
Oelwein, IA
Morning in Oelwein on Friday
Local time
9:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oelwein, IA to Urbandale, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 43m
Distance
168.8 mi
272 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 33m
★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 5m
10 AM
2h 51m
12 PM
2h 49m
3 PM
2h 52m
5 PM
3h 4m
8 PM
2h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oelwein, IA
Susanne Jutzeler, suju-foto
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Oelwein, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 168.8 miles and takes about 2h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 10th Street Southeast, Rock Island Road, Palace Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.39 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
84.4 miles from Oelwein, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 168.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 43m 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 2h 43m drive with frequent turns across 168.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
10th Street Southeast 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 Oelwein, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 2h 43m 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 Oelwein, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Street Southeast | — | — |
| Rock Island Road | — | — |
| Palace Road | — | — |
| Jackson Avenue | — | — |
| Main Street North | — | — |
| Jamestown Avenue | — | — |
| 5th Avenue Northeast | — | — |
| 1st Street East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
10th Street Southeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oelwein, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on South Frederick Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Frederick Avenue
2
Turn left onto 10th Street Southeast
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
10th Street Southeast
3
Turn right onto Rock Island Road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Rock Island Road
4
Continue on Palace Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Palace Road
5
Continue on Jackson Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Jackson Avenue
6
Continue on Main Street North
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street North
7
Continue on Jackson Avenue
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Jackson Avenue
8
Continue on Jamestown Avenue
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Jamestown Avenue
9
Continue on 5th Avenue Northeast
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Avenue Northeast
10
Turn right onto 1st Street East
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
11
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Southeast
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
12
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
13
Merge slight left
21 mi
·
24 min
14
Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
23 mi
·
27 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
15
Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
16
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
17
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
18
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
19
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
20
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
21
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
22
Turn right onto 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
23
Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
24
Continue on Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
25
Turn right
36 mi
·
42 min
26
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
11 mi
·
12 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
27
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
28
Turn left onto Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Merle Hay Road
29
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Meredith Drive
30
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
31
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Maryland Drive
32
Arrive at your destination
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 84.4 miles from Oelwein, IA, or about 1h 21m 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 37 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.4 miles or 1h 21m 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 14m
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 Oelwein, 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 Oelwein, IA
This is one driving day of about 168.8 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Oelwein, 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 84.4 mi from Oelwein, IA · 1h 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.4 miles from Oelwein, 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
$26.39 one way
$52.78 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.98 | $57.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.48 | $64.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.27 | $74.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.72 | $8.10 |
| Efficient EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.77 | $6.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.5 | 0 | $23.63 | $10.80 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Morning in Urbandale on Friday
Local time
9:52 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
14 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 43m 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 Oelwein, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 168.8 miles and takes about 2h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 10th Street Southeast, Rock Island Road, Palace Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.4 miles from Oelwein, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.39 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.
The drive from Oelwein, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 2h 43m 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 Oelwein, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Oelwein, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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