The drive from Tipton, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 142.8 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 I 80, Cedar Valley Road, Garfield Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 127.5 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.33 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
71.4 miles from Tipton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 22m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 43m. Total distance: 142.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 43m highway drive covering 142.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and Cedar Valley Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 127.5 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 127.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Cedar Valley Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 5th Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Tipton, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 2h 43m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (IA 38 / Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West South Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 38 / Cedar Street
Turn left onto IA 38 / Cedar Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|West South Street
Turn right onto West South Street
Navigation decision point
5
12.4 mi into trip|~18m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
139.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
I 80
127.5 mi
2h 18m
Cedar Valley Road
6.7 mi
9m
Garfield Avenue
4.5 mi
6m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
West South Street
0.6 mi
1m
Cedar Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 127.5 mi, about 2h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tipton, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on this road
118 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto East 5th Street
50 ft·7 sec·East 5th Street
3
Turn left onto IA 38
0.4 mi·56 sec·Cedar Street
4
Turn right onto West South Street
0.6 mi·1 min·West South Street
5
Continue on CR F36
6.7 mi·9 min·Cedar Valley Road
6
Turn left onto CR X40
4.5 mi·6 min·Garfield Avenue
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
8
Merge onto I 80
128 mi·2 hr 18 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
11
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
12
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
13
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
14
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 71.4 miles from Tipton, IA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 127.5 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.4 miles or 1h 22m 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 11m
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 Tipton, 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 Tipton, IA
This is one driving day of about 142.8 miles and 2h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Tipton, 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 127.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71.4 mi from Tipton, IA
· 1h 22m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.8
0
$14.99
$6.85
Efficient EV
35.7
0
$12.50
$5.71
EV Truck/SUV
57.1
0
$19.99
$9.14
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Tipton, IA
Evening
in Tipton on Friday
Local time
5:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Evening
in Urbandale on Friday
Local time
5:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Belle Plaine, IA
71 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
19 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 Tipton, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 142.8 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 I 80, Cedar Valley Road, Garfield Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.4 miles from Tipton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.33 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 Tipton, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 2h 43m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (IA 38 / Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (West South Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Tipton, 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.
