Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
16.1 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Melrose, IA
Choco Kitty
Albia, IA to Melrose, IA is 16.1 miles and takes about 25 minutes via US 34, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Iowa and the Midwest, making it an easy excursion. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so it’s a straightforward drive. Consider this a quick hop for a specific purpose or a brief addition to a larger trip.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 34 | 13.2 mi | 19m |
| 520th Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
| Shamrock Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Clinton Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Trinity Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Benton Avenue East | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Albia, IA and Melrose, IA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Turn left onto CR H35
Turn left onto IA 5
Turn straight onto IA 5
Turn right onto US 34
Turn left onto 520th Avenue
Continue on Shamrock Street
Turn right onto Trinity Avenue
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 16.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto IA 5 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 34
Navigation decision point
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.69 one way
$5.37 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $2.93 | $5.86 |
| premium | $5.25 | $3.33 | $6.66 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $3.98 | $7.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.8 | 0 | $1.69 | $0.77 |
| Efficient EV | 4 | 0 | $1.41 | $0.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.25 | $1.03 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Albia on Friday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Melrose on Friday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This route is mostly highway, with 82% of the drive on major roads like US 34. You'll experience a stretch of 13.2 miles on US 34 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a rural cruising feel for the majority of the trip.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 34 and 520th Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 2nd Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 25m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 5 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
180 ft
Total Descent
250 ft
Highest Point
998 ft
~12.7 mi in
Elevation Range
152 ft
Albia is a city in South Central Iowa.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 16.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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