Trip from Urbandale, IA to Boone, IA

Drive Time

56m

Distance

37.2 mi

60 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 14 min

4 AM

0h 52m ★

6 AM

0h 57m

8 AM

1h 6m

10 AM

1h 0m

12 PM

0h 59m

3 PM

1h 0m

5 PM

1h 5m

8 PM

0h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Urbandale, IA

ZaetaFlow Sec

Boone, IA

Mark Stebnicki

Trip Overview

If you are planning a quick excursion from Urbandale to Boone, you are looking at a straightforward 37.2-mile journey that typically takes about 56 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel is sufficient for the round trip. You will navigate through the heart of the Midwest, transitioning between these two Iowa communities via local roads rather than major interstate corridors. Because the drive is short, it offers great flexibility if you need to return home the same day. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that keeps you within the state of Iowa for the entire duration.

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

18.6 miles from Urbandale, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate grind. With a 100% highway share, the path relies on surface roads like South Kennedy Avenue, Northwest 142nd Street, and Meredith Drive to get you to your destination. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on South Kennedy Avenue, spanning 12.3 miles before the road profile shifts. The experience behind the wheel is characterized by frequent adjustments and local navigation rather than high-speed cruising. As you progress, the transition between these specific local roads defines the rhythm of your trip.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South Kennedy Avenue is the longest continuous segment at about 12.3 miles.

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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 70th Street.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Urbandale, IA to Boone, IA is easy. At 56m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | 70th Street

Turn right onto 70th Street

Navigation decision point

1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | Meredith Drive

At end of road, turn left onto Meredith Drive

Navigation decision point

12.7 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward IA 17: Madrid, Boone

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 17: Madrid, Boone

13.7 mi into trip | ~22m in | IA 17 / Northwest 142nd Street

Enter roundabout onto IA 17 / Northwest 142nd Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

33.4 mi into trip | ~50m in | Robin Road

Turn left onto Robin Road

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South Kennedy Avenue	12.3 mi	17m
Northwest 142nd Street	6.1 mi	8m
Meredith Drive	2.8 mi	5m
Southeast Grimes Boulevard	2.6 mi	3m
Northwest 114th Street	2.6 mi	3m
Mamie Eisenhower Avenue	2.4 mi	3m
Northwest Granger Drive	1.8 mi	2m
Y Avenue	1.2 mi	1m

Longest stretch: South Kennedy Avenue — 12.3 mi, about 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Boone, IA.

Start on Maryland Drive

13 ft · 2 sec · Maryland Drive

Turn right onto 70th Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · 70th Street

At end of road, turn left onto Meredith Drive

2.8 mi · 5 min · Meredith Drive

Turn right onto Northwest Urbandale Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · Northwest Urbandale Drive

Continue on IA 141

2.6 mi · 3 min · Southeast Grimes Boulevard

Use the none lane.

Continue on IA 141

1.0 mi · 1 min · Northeast Grimes Boulevard

Continue on IA 141

2.6 mi · 3 min · Northwest 114th Street

Continue on IA 141

1.8 mi · 2 min · Northwest Granger Drive

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward IA 17: Madrid, Boone

Continue on IA 17

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Northwest 142nd Street

Enter roundabout onto IA 17

102 ft · 1 sec · Northwest 142nd Street

Continue on IA 17

5.6 mi · 7 min · Northwest 142nd Street

Continue on State Highway 17

0.3 mi · 21 sec · State Highway 17

Continue on Y Avenue

1.2 mi · 1 min · Y Avenue

Continue on IA 17

0.2 mi · 21 sec · State Highway 17

Continue on IA 17

12 mi · 17 min · South Kennedy Avenue

Turn left onto Robin Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Robin Road

At end of road, turn left onto CR E41

0.7 mi · 1 min · 210th Street

Continue on Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

2.4 mi · 3 min · Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

Arrive at destination

Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, sub-one-hour trip, you have the advantage of scheduling flexibility for your departure time. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, as the 37.2-mile distance is easily manageable in one go. Keep in mind that because this route relies on local roads, you should stay alert for turns, especially when transitioning between South Kennedy Avenue and the other primary segments. Make sure your fuel levels are set before you leave Urbandale, as the $6 budget assumes a direct, efficient path. Taking advantage of the short drive time allows you to maximize your hours in Boone without the fatigue of a long-distance commute.

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 18.6 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.3 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 37.2 miles or 56m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 18.6 miles or 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boone, 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 37.2 miles and 56m.

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 South Kennedy Avenue for about 12.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 18.6 mi from Urbandale, IA · 28m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukee, IA

19 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

Ames, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukee, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.6 miles from Urbandale, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Boone, IA

The final approach into Boone, 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 Boone, 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

$5.65 one way

$11.30 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$6.23	$12.46
premium	$4.80	$7.02	$14.05
diesel	$5.64	$8.26	$16.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	11.2	$3.91	$1.79
Efficient EV	9.3	$3.26	$1.49
EV Truck/SUV	14.9	$5.21	$2.38

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Urbandale, IA

Afternoon in Urbandale on Sunday

Local time

3:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Boone, IA

Afternoon in Boone on Sunday

Local time

3:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°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

2 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

56m 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 Boone, IA covers 37.2 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Kennedy Avenue, Northwest 142nd Street, Meredith Drive. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 18.6 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 $5.65 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 Urbandale, IA to Boone, IA is easy. At 56m with 1% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The route from Urbandale, IA to Boone, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.