The drive from Washington, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 93.9 miles and takes about 1h 47m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, State Highway 3, 70th Street for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84.1 miles on I 35.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.68 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.
Midpoint
46.9 miles from Washington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 93.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 1h 47m highway drive covering 93.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 35 and State Highway 3. The longest continuous stretch is about 84.1 miles on I 35.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 35 is the longest continuous segment at about 84.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and State Highway 3. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 6.5 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Washington, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 1h 47m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
6
6.5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward Hampton, Clarion
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Hampton, Clarion
5
6.8 mi into trip|~9m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
84.6 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville...
4
91.9 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|Meredith Drive
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Washington, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Hampton, Clarion, Council Bluffs and Davenport.
Hampton
6.5 mi in|~9m
Clarion
6.5 mi in|~9m
Council Bluffs
84.6 mi in|~1h 33m|via I 35
Davenport
84.6 mi in|~1h 33m|via I 35
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
84.1 mi
1h 31m
State Highway 3
6.4 mi
8m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
Balsam Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Maryland Drive
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 84.1 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on IA 3
6.4 mi·8 min·State Highway 3
2
Continue on IA 3
517 ft·13 sec·Balsam Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Hampton, Clarion
4
Merge onto I 35
78 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·7 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
8
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
9
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
10
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
11
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
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 46.9 miles from Washington, IA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.1 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.9 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Washington, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Washington, IA
This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Washington, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 35 for about 84.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.9 mi from Washington, IA
· 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.68 one way
$29.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.12
$32.24
premium
$4.89
$18.07
$36.14
diesel
$5.61
$20.73
$41.46
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.2
0
$9.86
$4.51
Efficient EV
23.5
0
$8.22
$3.76
EV Truck/SUV
37.6
0
$13.15
$6.01
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Washington, IA
Late night
in Washington on Saturday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Late night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
4:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
16 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
1h 47m 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 Washington, IA to Urbandale, IA covers 93.9 miles and takes about 1h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 35, State Highway 3, 70th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.9 miles from Washington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.68 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 Washington, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 1h 47m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 84.6 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Washington, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Hampton, Clarion, Council Bluffs and Davenport.
