Origin
Sumner, IA
Afternoon in Sumner on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sumner, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
276.8 mi
446 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 37m
8 AM
5h 4m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 44m
3 PM
4h 48m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sumner, IA
Josef Traxler
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sumner, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 276.8 miles and takes about 4h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 140th Street, Piedmont Avenue, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.27 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
138.4 miles from Sumner, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 36m drive with frequent turns across 276.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
140th Street 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 36m 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 Sumner, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 140th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Piedmont Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 7th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 170th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Larrabee Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Logan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Airline Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
140th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sumner, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on East 1st Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
2
Continue on 140th Street
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
140th Street
3
Keep slight left to continue on Piedmont Avenue
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Piedmont Avenue
4
Continue on North Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
5
Turn right onto 7th Avenue Southwest
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
7th Avenue Southwest
6
Continue on 170th Street
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
170th Street
7
Turn left onto Larrabee Avenue
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
8
Continue on Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Logan Avenue
9
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
West Airline Highway
10
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Airport Boulevard
11
Take the ramp right toward US 218 north
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218 north
12
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
14
Keep slight left to continue on IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
15
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit slight right toward University Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
University Avenue
17
Keep slight right
335 ft
·
8 sec
18
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
University Avenue
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue
125 ft
·
3 sec
·
University Avenue
20
Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
University Avenue
21
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Grundy Road
22
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
23
Merge slight left
11 mi
·
13 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
25
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
26
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
27
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
28
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
29
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
30
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
31
Turn right onto 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
32
Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
33
Continue on Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
34
Turn right
36 mi
·
42 min
35
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
36
Continue straight
5.6 mi
·
6 min
37
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
96 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
38
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
39
Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
40
Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
41
Continue on East Broadway
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Broadway
42
Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
43
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Broadway
44
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 138.4 miles from Sumner, IA, or about 2h 18m 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 80 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.4 miles or 2h 18m 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 46m
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 Sumner, 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 Sumner, IA
This is one driving day of about 276.8 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sumner, 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 138.4 mi from Sumner, IA · 2h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
138 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.4 miles from Sumner, 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
$43.27 one way
$86.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.51 | $95.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $53.27 | $106.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.11 | $122.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83 | 1 | $29.06 | $13.29 |
| Efficient EV | 69.2 | 0 | $24.22 | $11.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110.7 | 1 | $38.75 | $17.72 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
2:03 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
7 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 36m 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 Sumner, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 276.8 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 140th Street, Piedmont Avenue, North Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.4 miles from Sumner, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.27 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 36m 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 Sumner, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sumner, IA to Council Bluffs, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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