Drive Time
2h 58m
Distance
145.5 mi
234 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Photo: Tara Winstead
The drive from Urbandale, IA to Anamosa, IA covers 145.5 miles and takes about 2h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 70th Street, Meredith Drive, Merle Hay Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.10 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
72.8 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 58m drive with frequent turns across 145.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Urbandale, IA to Anamosa, IA is easy. At 2h 58m 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 Urbandale, IA to Anamosa, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 70th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Meredith Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Merle Hay Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-35 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 6 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Anamosa, IA.
Start on Maryland Drive
Turn right onto 70th Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
Turn left onto Merle Hay Road
Take the ramp right toward I-35 north, I-80 east
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Continue straight
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
Take the exit right
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
Continue on 73rd Street
Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Continue straight
Keep slight right to continue on Collins Road Northeast
Turn left
Turn right onto Marion Airport Road
Take the exit slight right
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 1
Continue on County Road E34
Continue on Elm Street
Turn left onto Cemetery Road
Turn right onto South Elm Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.8 miles or 1h 29m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anamosa, IA than in the middle of the route.
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 145.5 miles and 2h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.8 mi from Urbandale, IA · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 72.8 miles from Urbandale, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Anamosa, 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 Anamosa, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$22.10 one way
$44.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $24.36 | $48.73 |
| premium | $4.80 | $27.47 | $54.93 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.33 | $64.65 |
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: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.7 | 0 | $15.28 | $6.98 |
| Efficient EV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.73 | $5.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.2 | 0 | $20.37 | $9.31 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
9:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Anamosa on Sunday
Local time
9:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
73 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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