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Trip from Urbandale, IA to Winterset, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

46m

Distance

33.5 mi

54 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 43m ★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m

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

city in Polk and Dallas counties, Iowa, United States

Urbandale, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Winterset, IA, IA

Winterset, IA

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Urbandale, IA to Winterset, IA covers 33.5 miles and takes about 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 70th Street, Roseland Drive, 72nd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.24 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

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

16.7 miles from Urbandale, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 23m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 46m drive with frequent turns across 33.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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 Winterset, IA is easy. At 46m 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 Winterset, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
70th Street
Roseland Drive
72nd Street
73rd Street
I-235 west
John MacVicar Freeway
US 169
North Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: 70th Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Maryland Drive

13 ft · 6 sec · Maryland Drive
2

Turn left onto 70th Street

348 ft · 10 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

1.6 mi · 2 min · 73rd Street
6

Take the ramp slight right toward I-235 west

0.3 mi · 43 sec · I-235 west
7

Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway

3.3 mi · 4 min · John MacVicar Freeway
8

Merge slight right

12 mi · 13 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset

0.3 mi · 51 sec · US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
10

Turn left onto North Avenue

482 ft · 9 sec · North Avenue
11

Continue on Guthrie Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Guthrie Street
12

Continue on North Avenue

14 mi · 20 min · North Avenue
13

Turn right onto West Grade Street

125 ft · 6 sec · West Grade Street
14

Arrive at your destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 16.7 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 23m 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 33.5 miles or 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 16.7 miles or 23m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winterset, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Urbandale, IA.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Urbandale, IA

This is one driving day of about 33.5 miles and 46m.

At 33.5 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 16.7 mi from Urbandale, IA · 23m into the drive

Downtown Earlham, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Earlham, IA

17 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

Buffalo (historical), IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 33.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Earlham, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Urbandale, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Winterset, IA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Winterset, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.24 one way

$10.47 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.75 $11.50
premium $4.89 $6.45 $12.89
diesel $5.61 $7.40 $14.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$30–$55

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10 0 $3.52 $1.61
Efficient EV 8.4 0 $2.93 $1.34
EV Truck/SUV 13.4 0 $4.69 $2.14

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Urbandale, IA

Evening in Urbandale on Wednesday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winterset, IA

Evening in Winterset on Wednesday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

46m 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 Winterset, IA covers 33.5 miles and takes about 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 70th Street, Roseland Drive, 72nd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.7 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 $5.24 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 Winterset, IA is easy. At 46m 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 Winterset, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Urbandale, IA to Winterset, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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