Origin
Storm Lake, IA
Morning in Storm Lake on Thursday
Local time
6:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 29m
Distance
140.6 mi
226 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 20m
★
6 AM
2h 30m
8 AM
2h 50m
10 AM
2h 37m
12 PM
2h 35m
3 PM
2h 38m
5 PM
2h 49m
8 PM
2h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Storm Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 140.6 miles and takes about 2h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, US 71 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.98 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.
Midpoint
70.3 miles from Storm Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 14m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 140.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m 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 29m drive with frequent turns across 140.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Lakeshore Drive 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 2h 29m 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 Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Lakeshore Drive | — | — |
| 130th Avenue | — | — |
| US 71 | — | — |
| US 20 East | — | — |
| US 169 | — | — |
| Lainson Avenue | — | — |
| 360th Street | — | — |
| 220th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Lakeshore Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Storm Lake, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Continue on West Lakeshore Drive
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
West Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on 130th Avenue
11 mi
·
14 min
·
130th Avenue
4
Continue on US 71
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 71
5
Take the exit left toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 20 East: Fort Dodge
6
Merge slight left
49 mi
·
56 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 169
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
US 169
8
Turn right onto Lainson Avenue
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Lainson Avenue
9
Turn left onto 360th Street
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
360th Street
10
Take the exit slight right
16 mi
·
22 min
11
Turn left onto 220th Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
220th Street
12
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
1 min
13
Turn right onto H Avenue
11 mi
·
15 min
·
H Avenue
14
Continue on N Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
15
Take the exit left toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 141 east: Urbandale
16
Continue on Northwest Granger Drive
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
17
Continue on Northwest 114th Street
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
18
Continue on Northeast Grimes Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
19
Continue on Grimes Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
20
Continue on Southeast Grimes Boulevard
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
21
Continue on Northwest Urbandale Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
22
Turn left onto Meredith Drive
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Meredith Drive
23
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
24
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Maryland Drive
25
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 70.3 miles from Storm Lake, IA, or about 1h 14m 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 31 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.3 miles or 1h 14m 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 2m
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 Storm Lake, 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 Storm Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 140.6 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Storm Lake, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.3 mi from Storm Lake, IA · 1h 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.3 miles from Storm Lake, 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
$21.98 one way
$43.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.13 | $48.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.06 | $54.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.04 | $62.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.76 | $6.75 |
| Efficient EV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.30 | $5.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.68 | $9.00 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Morning in Urbandale on Thursday
Local time
6:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Centerville, IA
70 mi in
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 29m 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 Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 140.6 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, US 71. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.3 miles from Storm Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.98 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.
The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 2h 29m 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 Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Storm Lake, IA to Urbandale, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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