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Trip from Washington, IA to Council Bluffs, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 53m

Distance

242.7 mi

391 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 40m ★
6 AM
4h 53m
8 AM
5h 20m
10 AM
5h 3m
12 PM
5h 0m
3 PM
5h 4m
5 PM
5h 19m
8 PM
4h 45m

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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city in Iowa, United States

Washington, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States

Council Bluffs, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Washington, IA to Council Bluffs, IA covers 242.7 miles and takes about 4h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 80, A Avenue East, State Highway 92 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 113.9 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.94 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

121.3 miles from Washington, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 38m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 113.9 mi 2h 2m
A Avenue East 35.3 mi 42m
State Highway 92 24.7 mi 36m
State Highway 5 19.2 mi 22m
IA-92 13.8 mi 20m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway 12.3 mi 14m
East Jackson Street 8.4 mi 11m
I 35 4.3 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 113.9 mi, about 2h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Washington, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.

1

Start on South Marion Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Marion Avenue
2

Turn left onto West 5th Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · West 5th Street
3

Turn right onto IA 1; IA 92

2.0 mi · 2 min · IA 1; IA 92
4

Turn left onto IA 92

25 mi · 36 min · State Highway 92
5

Continue on IA 92; IA 149

8.4 mi · 11 min · East Jackson Street
6

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 42 sec
7

Continue on IA 92

14 mi · 20 min · IA-92
8

Continue on IA 92

35 mi · 42 min · A Avenue East
9

Turn right

0.1 mi · 7 sec
10

Continue on IA 5

19 mi · 22 min · State Highway 5
11

Merge onto US 65; IA 5

12 mi · 14 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
13

Merge onto I 35

4.3 mi · 5 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ramp 72 J
Exit 72B Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Merge onto I 235

0.5 mi · 40 sec · John MacVicar Freeway
16

Merge onto I 80

95 mi · 1 hr 41 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

19 mi · 20 min · I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
18

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
19

Turn straight onto IA 906

2.8 mi · 4 min · East Kanesville Boulevard
20

Continue on IA 906

0.1 mi · 20 sec · East Broadway
21

Continue on IA 906

0.9 mi · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard
22

Continue on West Broadway

0.4 mi · 50 sec · West Broadway
23

Arrive at destination

West Broadway

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 121.3 miles from Washington, IA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.9 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 53 miles or 1h 17m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 121.3 miles or 2h 38m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Council Bluffs, 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.

+

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 Washington, IA

This is one driving day of about 242.7 miles and 4h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Washington, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 113.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Polk, Dallas, Warren, and Madison counties, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

West Des Moines, IA

121 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

Oskaloosa, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

West Des Moines, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 121.3 miles from Washington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.9 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Café Dodici

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Washington, Iowa

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Hours: 5–8 pm

+13196534012

Visit website

Frontier Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Washington, Iowa

0.1 mi

Panda Palace Chinese Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Washington, Iowa

0.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Smokey Row Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 52

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+16416761600

Visit website

Hyper Energy Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

West Des Moines, Iowa

0.8 mi

SweetDude Coffee & Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Clive, Iowa

2.9 mi

Café Dodici

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30

Washington, Iowa

Hours: 5–8 pm

+13196534012

Visit website

Frontier Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Washington, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+13196536539

Panda Palace Chinese Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Washington, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+13196536888

Visit website

The Breakfast Club

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 121.3

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2:30 pm

+15152247030

Visit website

The Homestyle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 52

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Hours: 5 am–1:30 pm

+16416735306

Visit website

Runza Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 242.7

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+17123228935

Visit website

El Toreado Restaurant Bar & Grill . EP True

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 121.3

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+15152262182

Visit website

Spirit Cafe - Special needs work program

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 52

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–2 pm

+16416769528

Visit website

Smokey Row Coffee

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 52

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+16416761600

Visit website

Hyper Energy Bar

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10 mile 121.3

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–7 pm

+15156446155

Visit website

SweetDude Coffee & Café

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 121.3

Clive, Iowa

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+15155090915

Visit website

Vintage Road Coffee Co. - MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10 mile 121.3

West Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+13193210534

Visit website

Café Postale

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 242.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: Closed

+14022845019

Visit website

Life Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 121.3

Urbandale, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

TMC Chrome Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $1 to $10 mile 121.3

Des Moines, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+15154758085

Playgrounds Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 121.3

Waukee, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–1 pm

+15156446331

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 138.7

De Soto, Iowa

+31880109500

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 242.7

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 208

Avoca, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 242.7

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 242.7

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 242.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 208

Shelby, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 156

Stuart, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Z'Mariks Noodle Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 121.3

Clive, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm

+15152239605

Visit website

Lewis & Clark Landing at The RiverFront

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 242.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+14025996565

Visit website

Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 242.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+14025996565

Visit website

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 242.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+14026611804

Visit website

The Old Market

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 242.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–1:30 pm

+14023464445

Visit website

Museum Of Shadows

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 242.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 2–10 pm

+14028857557

Visit website

Lake Manawa State Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 242.7

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 4 am–10:30 pm

+17123660220

Visit website

Paris Banh Mi Windsor Heights

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 121.3

Windsor Heights, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–7:30 pm

+15152778888

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 105.7 and 219 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
105.7 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in | US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

Merge onto US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
118 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I-35 north: Minneapolis

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
118.9 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | I 35

Merge onto I 35

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
123.2 mi into trip | ~2h 40m in | Ramp 72 J

Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Exit 72B Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
6
219 mi into trip | ~4h 24m in | I 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.94 one way

$75.89 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 85 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $41.66 $83.32
premium $4.89 $46.71 $93.41
diesel $5.61 $53.59 $107.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 84.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 72.8 0 $25.48 $11.65
Efficient EV 60.7 0 $21.24 $9.71
EV Truck/SUV 97.1 1 $33.98 $15.53

Gas CO2

85 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Afternoon in Washington on Saturday

Local time

2:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Council Bluffs, IA

Afternoon in Council Bluffs on Saturday

Local time

2:22 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°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

14 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

4h 53m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

242.7 mi in 4h 53m, mostly highway — 113.9 mi of that is on I 80.

74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 113.9 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and A Avenue East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 105.7 miles in near US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 242.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 105.7 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 118.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Washington, IA to Council Bluffs, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Omaha Nebraska along the way.

Omaha Nebraska

219 mi in | ~4h 24m | via I 80

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 242.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 113.9 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Council Bluffs, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 105.7 miles (US 65; IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 118 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 118.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Council Bluffs, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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