Trip from Adel, IA to Council Bluffs, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 5m

Distance

111.1 mi

179 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 27 min

4 AM

1h 56m ★

6 AM

2h 5m

8 AM

2h 23m

10 AM

2h 12m

12 PM

2h 10m

3 PM

2h 13m

5 PM

2h 22m

8 PM

2h 0m

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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Adel, IA

Wikimedia Commons

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

Council Bluffs, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Adel, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is 111.1 miles and takes about 2h 5m via US 6 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive through the Midwest, staying within Iowa for the entirety of the journey. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's a good option for a single-day trip, allowing you to get to your destination without needing to stop overnight. The route is primarily focused on highway travel, making it a functional choice for reaching Council Bluffs efficiently.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

55.6 miles from Adel, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 6	82.4 mi	1h 28m
I 80	19.1 mi	20m
N Avenue	4.1 mi	5m
East Kanesville Boulevard	3.7 mi	6m
Nile Kinnick Drive South	1 mi	2m
West Broadway	0.4 mi	<1m
East Broadway	0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 6 — 82.4 mi, about 1h 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 169

1.0 mi · 2 min · Nile Kinnick Drive South

Continue on US 6; US 169

4.1 mi · 5 min · N Avenue

Take the exit onto US 6

82 mi · 1 hr 28 min · US 6

Toward I-80 west: Council Bluffs

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

19 mi · 20 min · I 80

Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 31 sec

Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland

Turn straight onto IA 906

2.8 mi · 4 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

Continue on IA 906

0.1 mi · 20 sec · East Broadway

Continue on IA 906

0.9 mi · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

Continue on West Broadway

0.4 mi · 50 sec · West Broadway

Arrive at destination

West Broadway

Trip Plan

With a drive time of just over two hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid any early rush and arrive in Council Bluffs with plenty of afternoon time. You won't need to worry about extensive stopovers, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 82.4-mile stretch on US 6, as services might be more spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $17 should help you budget accordingly for the 111.1-mile trip.

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 55.6 miles from Adel, IA, or about 1h 1m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.4 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 24 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 55.6 miles or 1h 1m 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 40m

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 Adel, 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 Adel, IA

This is one driving day of about 111.1 miles and 2h 5m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Adel, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on US 6 for about 82.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Avoca, IA

56 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

Stuart, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Atlantic, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 55.6 miles from Adel, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 6 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 82.4 miles.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

Patrick's Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Adel, Iowa

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15159933884

Visit website

Chuckwagon Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Adair, Iowa

0.8 mi

Runza Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Council Bluffs, Iowa

0.8 mi

Best coffee break · early in the drive

Casey Creamery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Casey, Iowa

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch · 36min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+16417462735

Visit website

Patrick's Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Adel, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+15159933884

Visit website

Chuckwagon Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

Early stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Adair, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–8:30 pm

+16417423611

Visit website

Runza Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+17123228935

Visit website

Fuego Mexican restaurant

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20

Adair, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+16417422025

Visit website

Los Altos Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Stuart, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+15155238000

Visit website

Tish's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $10 to $20

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17123235456

Visit website

Apple Barrel Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+17123223000

Visit website

Ambro's Roadhouse

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

De Soto, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+15158349174

Visit website

Casey Creamery

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Casey, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+16417462735

Visit website

Café Postale

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~9 min detour

Home stretch 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: Closed

+14022845019

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Shelby, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18774943833

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

Home stretch 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 4 am–10:30 pm

+17123660220

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 5.1 and 106.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5.1 mi into trip | ~7m in | US 6

Take the exit onto US 6 toward I-80 west: Council Bluffs

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I-80 west: Council Bluffs

87.5 mi into trip | ~1h 36m 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...

106.6 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in

Take the exit toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$17.37 one way

$34.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$19.07	$38.14
premium	$4.89	$21.38	$42.76
diesel	$5.61	$24.53	$49.06

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	33.3	$11.67	$5.33
Efficient EV	27.8	$9.72	$4.44
EV Truck/SUV	44.4	$15.55	$7.11

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 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 18, 2026

Origin

Adel, IA

Late night in Adel on Tuesday

Local time

4:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Council Bluffs, IA

Late night in Council Bluffs on Tuesday

Local time

4:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

34°F

Clear

NW 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

41°F

Avoca, IA

56 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

25 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

2h 5m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 91% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including an uninterrupted segment of 82.4 miles on US 6. The profile suggests a smooth, direct path, meaning you won't encounter many winding local roads or significant changes in terrain. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip, making it easy to maintain a steady pace.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 82.4 mi on US 6.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 6 and I 80. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 5.1 miles in near US 6.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Adel, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is easy. At 2h 5m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 5.1 miles (US 6): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 87.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Adel, IA to Council Bluffs, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Omaha Nebraska along the way.

Omaha Nebraska

87.5 mi in | ~1h 36m | via I 80

About the Cities

Arriving in Council Bluffs, IA

Full guide →

Council Bluffs is a city in Southwest Iowa, just across the Missouri River from Omaha. It is known for its casinos and ties to the transcontinental railroad. It is sometimes called "Iowa's Leading Edge."

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 111.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 82.4 miles on US 6. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Council Bluffs, IA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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Explore more options from Adel, IA or browse trips ending in Council Bluffs, IA.

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Trip from Adel, IA to Council Bluffs, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Patrick's Restaurant

Casey Creamery

Patrick's Restaurant

Chuckwagon Restaurant

Runza Restaurant

Fuego Mexican restaurant

Los Altos Mexican Restaurant

Tish's Restaurant

Apple Barrel Restaurant

Ambro's Roadhouse

Casey Creamery

Café Postale

Tesla Supercharger

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Electrify America Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Lewis & Clark Landing at The RiverFront

Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center

The Old Market

Museum Of Shadows

Lake Manawa State Park

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Adel, IA

Council Bluffs, IA

Same local time

25 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 5m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Council Bluffs, IA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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