Origin
Urbandale, IA
Evening in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
5:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Urbandale, IA to Cresco, IA
Drive Time
3h 51m
Distance
191.9 mi
309 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 39m
★
6 AM
3h 52m
8 AM
4h 18m
10 AM
4h 1m
12 PM
3h 58m
3 PM
4h 2m
5 PM
4h 16m
8 PM
3h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Urbandale, IA
ZaetaFlow Sec
Cresco, IA
DS stories
Trip Overview
The drive from Urbandale, IA to Cresco, IA covers 191.9 miles and takes about 3h 51m 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 $29.15 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
96 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 191.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
70th 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Urbandale, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 51m 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 Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 70th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Meredith Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Merle Hay Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I-35 north | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 18 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 218 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Monroe Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
70th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Cresco, IA.
1
Start on Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
3 sec
·
Maryland Drive
2
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Meredith Drive
4
Turn left onto Merle Hay Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Merle Hay Road
5
Take the ramp right toward I-35 north, I-80 east
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I-35 north, I-80 east
6
Merge slight left
4.0 mi
·
4 min
7
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
8
Continue straight
0.6 mi
·
41 sec
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
104 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
11
Merge slight left
30 mi
·
35 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 218, CR T44: Floyd
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218, CR T44: Floyd
13
Turn left onto Monroe Street
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Monroe Street
14
Turn right onto State Highway 9
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 9
15
Continue on Highway 9
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 9
16
Continue on West Main Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
17
Continue on State Highway 9
21 mi
·
28 min
·
State Highway 9
18
Continue on 2nd Avenue Southwest
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue Southwest
19
Turn left onto 3rd Street Southwest
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
3rd Street Southwest
20
Continue on 3rd Street West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street West
21
Turn right onto 8th Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue West
22
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 96 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 1h 55m 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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96 miles or 1h 55m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresco, 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 191.9 miles and 3h 51m.
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.
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 96 mi from Urbandale, IA · 1h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 96 miles from Urbandale, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cresco, IA
The final approach into Cresco, 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 Cresco, 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
$29.15 one way
$58.30 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $32.13 | $64.26 |
| premium | $4.80 | $36.23 | $72.45 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.63 | $85.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.15 | $9.21 |
| Efficient EV | 48 | 0 | $16.79 | $7.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.87 | $12.28 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Cresco, IA
Evening in Cresco on Sunday
Local time
5:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 51m 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 Cresco, IA covers 191.9 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 70th Street, Meredith Drive, Merle Hay Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96 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 $29.15 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Urbandale, IA to Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Urbandale, IA to Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Urbandale, IA to Cresco, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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