Origin
Urbandale, IA
Afternoon in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Urbandale, IA to Adel, IA
Drive Time
26m
Distance
16.6 mi
27 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 28m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Urbandale, IA
ZaetaFlow Sec
Adel, IA
Dany Castrejon
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion through the heart of the Midwest, the 16.6-mile trip from Urbandale to Adel is an ideal choice. Expect to reach your destination in about 26 minutes, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day outing. You will spend roughly $3 in fuel for the entire journey, keeping your travel costs very low. Because the route is entirely local, you won't need to worry about overnight lodging or splitting your travel time. It is a straightforward, practical connection between two Iowa communities that works well for a casual afternoon drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.3 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .
Drive Character
This drive leans heavily into a turn-heavy local profile rather than a high-speed interstate experience. You will navigate entirely on local roads, meaning there is zero highway share on this 16.6-mile path. The journey relies on a sequence of Hickman Road, 290th Street, and Greene Street to get you to your destination. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 12.5-mile segment on Hickman Road, which serves as the primary artery for the trip. Be prepared for a more deliberate pace as you move through these local roads compared to the typical highway grind.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Hickman Road is the longest continuous segment at about 12.5 miles.
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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 70th Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Roseland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (72nd Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
70th Street
Turn left onto 70th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Roseland Drive
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
72nd Street
Turn left onto 72nd Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 6 / Hickman Road
Turn right onto US 6 / Hickman Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
4
16.6 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
US 169 / Nile Kinnick Drive South
Turn right onto US 169 / Nile Kinnick Drive South
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hickman Road | 12.5 mi | 19m |
| 290th Street | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Greene Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 72nd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Roseland Drive | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| 73rd Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 70th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Nile Kinnick Drive South | <0.1 mi | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Hickman Road
— 12.5 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Adel, IA.
1
Start on Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
5 sec
·
Maryland Drive
2
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft
·
9 sec
·
70th Street
3
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Roseland Drive
4
Turn left onto 72nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
72nd Street
5
Turn straight onto 73rd Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
73rd Street
6
Turn right onto US 6
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Hickman Road
Use the none lane.
7
Continue on US 6
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
290th Street
8
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greene Street
9
Turn right onto US 169
16 ft
·
0 sec
·
Nile Kinnick Drive South
10
Arrive at destination
US 169
Trip Plan
Since the total drive time is only 26 minutes, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily fit this trip into a morning or afternoon schedule without worrying about complex stop planning, as there are no mandated stops along the route. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should stay alert at intersections rather than settling into a monotonous cruise. Given the short distance, ensure your vehicle is ready for frequent turns rather than sustained highway speeds. A smart tip for this specific path is to map your turns on Hickman Road and 290th Street in advance, as the frequent road changes define the character of this quick Iowa transit.
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 8.3 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.5 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 16.6 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.3 miles or 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Adel, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Urbandale, 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 Urbandale, IA
This is one driving day of about 16.6 miles and 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Urbandale, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Hickman Road for about 12.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.3 mi from Urbandale, IA · 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.3 miles from Urbandale, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Adel, IA
The final approach into Adel, 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 Adel, 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
$2.52 one way
$5.04 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $2.78 | $5.56 |
| premium | $4.80 | $3.13 | $6.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.69 | $7.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5 | 0 | $1.74 | $0.80 |
| Efficient EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.45 | $0.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.6 | 0 | $2.32 | $1.06 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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
Adel, IA
Afternoon in Adel on Sunday
Local time
3:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Altoona, IA
8 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
6 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
26m 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 Urbandale, IA to Adel, IA covers 16.6 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Hickman Road, 290th Street, Greene Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.3 miles from Urbandale, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.52 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.
This is a straightforward 26m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Roseland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (72nd Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Urbandale, IA to Adel, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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