Origin
Albia, IA
Night in Albia on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albia, IA to Urbandale, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
72.8 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Albia, IA to Urbandale, IA is 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m via IA 5, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With an 83% highway share, expect a fairly direct and efficient trip. It's a straightforward journey, perfect for a day trip or a quick connection between these two Iowa locations without needing an overnight stay. Consider this route for its simplicity and speed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.4 miles from Albia, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 5 | 35.9 mi | 49m |
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 7.5 mi | 8m |
| IA 28 | 5 mi | 8m |
| 73rd Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 8th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 72nd Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Grand Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 35.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albia, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft
·
9 sec
·
Benton Avenue East
4
Turn right onto IA 5
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 5
25 mi
·
37 min
·
IA 5
6
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi
·
12 min
·
IA 5
7
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
8
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
9
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 99
Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn right onto IA 28
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
IA 28
12
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Grand Avenue
13
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Street
14
Continue on 73rd Street
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
73rd Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on 72nd Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
72nd Street
16
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Roseland Drive
17
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft
·
10 sec
·
70th Street
18
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Maryland Drive
19
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1 hour and 39 minutes, you have plenty of flexibility for when to depart. Leaving in the morning or afternoon should work well, allowing you to take advantage of daylight. With a total of 72.8 miles, you won't need to worry about splitting the drive, and with a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical trip. The longest stretch is 35.9 miles on IA 5, so plan your break before or after that segment if you like to stop frequently. Keep an eye out for signs indicating the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway as a key marker for this route.
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 36.4 miles from Albia, IA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.4 miles or 50m 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 20m
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 Albia, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albia, IA
This is one driving day of about 72.8 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Albia, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Albia, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 2nd Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Turn left onto CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 5 / North Main Street
Turn right onto IA 5 / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
8
63.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
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 99
Toward IA 28: Norwalk, Martensdale
5
72.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
Maryland Drive
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.38 one way
$22.76 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.50 | $24.99 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.01 | $28.02 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.07 | $32.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.64 | $3.49 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.1 | 0 | $10.19 | $4.66 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Night in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
36 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the journey taking place on highways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 35.9 miles on IA 5, giving you a good amount of time to settle into a consistent pace. The Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway is a notable part of this drive, suggesting a well-maintained and direct path. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently, with fewer turns and more open road.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and State Highway 5. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 39m drive. You will face about 14 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 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Albia, IA to Urbandale, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Martensdale along the way.
Martensdale
63.2 mi in
|
~1h 21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 72.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 / North Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Urbandale, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Urbandale, IA
More trips to Urbandale, IA
Explore more options from Albia, IA or browse trips ending in Urbandale, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.