Roland, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is 172.5 miles and takes about 3h 14m via I 80 and I 35, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Iowa on major interstates. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused drive that’s ideal for a single-day journey. It's a practical route for moving between these two points efficiently, with minimal detours needed. Given its relatively short duration, it’s a good option if you’re looking to get to your destination without a significant time commitment.
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
86.3 miles from Roland, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
114.6 mi
2h 3m
I 35
49.4 mi
54m
East Kanesville Boulevard
3.7 mi
6m
130th Street
3.1 mi
5m
East Maple Street
0.5 mi
<1m
West Broadway
0.4 mi
<1m
East Broadway
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 114.6 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roland, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on CR E18
0.5 mi·53 sec·East Maple Street
2
Continue on CR E18
3.1 mi·5 min·130th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
4
Merge onto I 35
35 mi·38 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
14 mi·16 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, DavenportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
19 mi·20 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
9
Turn straight onto IA 906
2.8 mi·4 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
10
Continue on IA 906
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Broadway
11
Continue on IA 906
0.9 mi·2 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
12
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi·50 sec·West Broadway
13
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3 hours, this route offers considerable flexibility. You can depart any time of day and still comfortably reach Council Bluffs within daylight hours. There's only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, perhaps for a quick fuel top-off or stretch. Given the 95% highway share, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 114.6 miles on I 80, as services can sometimes be spread out. Your estimated fuel cost is around $27, making it an economical trip.
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 86.3 miles from Roland, IA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.6 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 1h 37m 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 37m
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 Roland, 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 Roland, IA
This is one driving day of about 172.5 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Roland, 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 I 80 for about 114.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 168 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4 mi into trip|~7m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
39.1 mi into trip|~45m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
7
53.4 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
6
148.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...
5
168 mi into trip|~3h 5m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.97 one way
$53.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.61
$59.22
premium
$4.89
$33.20
$66.39
diesel
$5.61
$38.09
$76.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.11
$8.28
Efficient EV
43.1
0
$15.09
$6.90
EV Truck/SUV
69
0
$24.15
$11.04
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Roland, IA
Afternoon
in Roland on Saturday
Local time
3:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon
in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
3:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Clear
NW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
15 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
3h 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with a substantial 95% of the journey on major interstates like I 80 and I 35. You'll experience long stretches of consistent driving, including one segment of 114.6 miles on I 80. The character of the road remains largely consistent, emphasizing speed and directness. While East Kanesville Boulevard plays a small role, the bulk of your time will be spent on these high-speed corridors. Expect a smooth, uninterrupted flow for most of the 3h 14m duration.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 35. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.5 miles you will encounter 6 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Roland, IA and Council Bluffs, IA, road signs point toward Davenport and Omaha Nebraska.
Davenport
39.1 mi in|~45m|via I 35
Omaha Nebraska
148.9 mi in|~2h 45m|via I 80
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 172.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 114.6 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 53.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Council Bluffs, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
