Origin
Audubon, IA
Late night in Audubon on Sunday
Local time
4:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Audubon, IA to Council Bluffs, 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 27m
Distance
72.9 mi
117 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Audubon, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 72.9-mile drive from Audubon to Council Bluffs, Iowa, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking about 1 hour and 27 minutes. With 90% of the journey on highways, it's a focused drive that should cost around $11 in fuel. You'll mostly be on I-80 and Highway 71, making for efficient travel across the Midwest. Given the relatively short duration and the direct route, this trip is perfect for a quick transit between these two Iowa locations without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 51.5 mi | 55m |
| Highway 71 | 14.3 mi | 19m |
| East Kanesville Boulevard | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Lincoln Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| South Market Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 650th Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| West Broadway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| East Broadway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 51.5 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Audubon, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on US 71
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Market Street
2
Continue on US 71
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Highway 71
3
Continue on US 71
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street
4
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Highway 71
5
Continue on US 71
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
650th Street
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
7
Merge onto I 80
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 80
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
10
Turn straight onto IA 906
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
11
Continue on IA 906
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
East Broadway
12
Continue on IA 906
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Kanesville Boulevard
13
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Broadway
14
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
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 36.5 miles from Audubon, 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
4 of 44 decision points cluster between mile 16.4 and 68.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
16.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
16.8 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
49.3 mi into trip
|
~58m 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...
5
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m 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
$11.40 one way
$22.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.51 | $25.03 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.03 | $28.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.10 | $32.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.65 | $3.50 |
| Efficient EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.38 | $2.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.2 | 0 | $10.21 | $4.67 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Council Bluffs, IA
Late night in Council Bluffs on Sunday
Local time
4:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Avoca, IA
36 mi in
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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 27m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for 90% of this drive, primarily on I-80 and Highway 71. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 51.5 miles on I-80, offering a consistent pace. This route is designed for efficient travel, meaning the road character remains largely consistent, favoring speed and directness over winding scenic byways. East Kanesville Boulevard will be your final approach into Council Bluffs, marking the transition from high-speed highway to a more urban setting.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 51.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 16.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Audubon, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is easy. At 1h 27m with 90% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 49.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Audubon, IA and Council Bluffs, IA, road signs point toward Omaha Nebraska and Oakland.
Omaha Nebraska
49.3 mi in
|
~58m
|
via I 80
Oakland
68.3 mi in
|
~1h 19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 72.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.5 miles on I 80. 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: at 16.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 16.8 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 49.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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