Spanning 293.7 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Burlington to Council Bluffs typically takes about 4 hours and 42 minutes to complete. Because the duration is manageable for most drivers, you can comfortably finish this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stop. You will primarily navigate via North Central Avenue, US 34 West, and US 218 as you traverse the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $44, it is a relatively affordable trek between these two cities. While you only need to plan for one major stop, having that flexibility makes the journey feel less rushed and more enjoyable.
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
148.3 miles from Burlington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
113.9 mi
2h 2m
US 34
88.1 mi
1h 43m
A Avenue West
32.4 mi
36m
State Highway 5
19.2 mi
22m
US 63
16.7 mi
19m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.3 mi
14m
I 35
4.3 mi
5m
East Kanesville Boulevard
3.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 113.9 mi, about 2h 2m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,582 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,907
Quietest
2 AM
~131 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 47 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.4 mi·49 sec·South Central Avenue
2
Continue on North Central Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Central Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·26 sec
Toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
4
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
26 mi·30 min·US 34; IA 163
5
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.8 mi·1 min·US 34; IA 163
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
6
Merge onto US 34; US 218; IA 27; IA 163
1.8 mi·2 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 34; IA 163
Exit 45
8
Continue on US 63; IA 163
17 mi·19 min·US 63; IA 163
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
10
Turn left onto IA 92
32 mi·36 min·A Avenue West
11
Turn right
0.1 mi·7 sec
12
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 5
13
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
15
Merge onto I 35
4.3 mi·5 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J
0.5 mi·1 min·Ramp 72 J
Exit 72BToward I 80 west: Council BluffsUse the straight / right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 235
0.5 mi·40 sec·John MacVicar Freeway
18
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
19 mi·20 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
21
Turn straight onto IA 906
2.8 mi·4 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
22
Continue on IA 906
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Broadway
23
Continue on IA 906
0.9 mi·2 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
24
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi·50 sec·West Broadway
25
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
Trip Plan
When planning your departure, prioritize a morning start to make the most of the daylight for the turn-heavy sections of the route. Since you are not restricted by high-speed highway travel, allow yourself extra time to adjust to the local road conditions. Budgeting for your $44 fuel cost in advance will help keep your travel day stress-free. Given the nature of the drive, plan your one necessary stop near the midpoint to break up the technical steering and give yourself a chance to stretch. Keeping a close eye on your navigation is essential here, as the lack of major highway segments means you will be making frequent directional changes.
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 148.3 miles from Burlington, IA, or about 2h 53m 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 65 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.3 miles or 2h 53m 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 38m
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 Burlington, 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 Burlington, IA
This is one driving day of about 296.6 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Burlington, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 272.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
5
27.1 mi into trip|~32m in|US 34; IA 163
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfiel...
5
29.6 mi into trip|~36m in|US 34; IA 163
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 45
7
177.1 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
272.9 mi into trip|~5h 10m 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
$43.80 one way
$87.60 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$48.36
$96.71
premium
$4.72
$55.07
$110.14
diesel
$4.80
$56.00
$112.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89
1
$31.14
$14.24
Efficient EV
74.2
0
$25.95
$11.86
EV Truck/SUV
118.6
1
$41.52
$18.98
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 14, 2026
Origin
Burlington, IA
Evening
in Burlington on Saturday
Local time
8:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 14 at 9:31AM CDT until July 17 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 3:20AM CDT until July 15 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Destination
Council Bluffs, IA
Evening
in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
8:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SSE 2 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 14 at 9:31AM CDT until July 17 at 12:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 14 at 3:20AM CDT until July 15 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
64°F
Pleasantville, IA
148 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
2 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
5h 39m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route has a highway share of 0%. Because the path relies on local roads, you will find yourself navigating frequent turns instead of long, uninterrupted stretches; in fact, there are 0 miles of straight, consistent travel on North Central Avenue. This character requires your full attention behind the wheel, making it a more engaged experience than a standard highway commute. As you progress through the heart of the state, the winding nature of the roads ensures that the scenery remains varied throughout your 293.7-mile journey.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 34. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 296.6 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.6 miles (US 34; IA 163): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,347 ft605 ft
Total Climb
941 ft
Total Descent
557 ft
Highest Point
1,347 ft
~233 mi in
Elevation Range
743 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Burlington, IA and Council Bluffs, IA, road signs point toward Fairfield, Knoxville and Omaha Nebraska.
Burlington is a city in Southeast Iowa. It is on the Mississippi River and has a population of about 27,000.
From the raising of the American flag here in 1805 by Zebulon Pike to becoming a post of the American Fur Company in 1829 and then Iowa Territory's first territorial capital in 1838, Burlington has been a place of considerable historical value. Intriguingly, it is the source for the name Hawkeye State (from the name of a newspaper honoring Chief Black Hawk) and the name Burlington Railroad.
Top landmarks
•Burlington station — train station in Burlington, Iowa, US
•Crapo Park — urban park in Burlington, Iowa, USA
•Christ Episcopal Church — church in Burlington, Iowa
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."
Top landmarks
•Ruth Anne Dodge Memorial — statue in Council Bluffs, United States of America
•Grenville M. Dodge House — historic house in Iowa, United States
•RailsWest Railroad Museum — railway station in Council Bluffs, the United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 296.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). 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 0.6 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.1 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.6 miles (US 34; IA 163): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Council Bluffs, IA before the return drive.
