Origin
Carroll, IA
Morning in Carroll on Tuesday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carroll, IA to Urbandale, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
81.8 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carroll, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Carroll, IA to Urbandale, IA is 81.8 miles and takes about 1h 56m via 220th Street, Northwest Granger Drive, and County Road N33, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest as you head southeast. Given that this route is entirely on surface roads, expect a more relaxed pace than a highway drive. It's a straightforward, single-day trip perfect for a quick connection between these two Iowa locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.9 miles from Carroll, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 20.5 mi | 28m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 15.6 mi | 18m |
| County Road N33 | 10.3 mi | 13m |
| 144 Diagonal | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| 335th Street | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| U Avenue | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Meredith Drive | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 20.5 mi, about 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carroll, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on this road
129 ft
·
11 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right
74 ft
·
10 sec
3
Turn left onto US 30
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
East 6th Street
4
Continue on US 30
10 mi
·
13 min
·
County Road N33
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 30
21 mi
·
28 min
·
220th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 144
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
9th N Street
7
Continue on IA 144
496 ft
·
18 sec
·
South 9th Street
8
Turn right onto IA 144
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
·
West Main Street
9
Continue on IA 144
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
U Avenue
10
Turn slight left onto IA 144
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
144 Diagonal
11
Continue on IA 144
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Apple Road
12
Continue on IA 144
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
325th Street
13
Continue on IA 144
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
D Avenue
14
Turn left onto 335th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
335th Street
15
Continue on East Avenue
470 ft
·
14 sec
·
East Avenue
16
Turn right onto 335th Street
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
335th Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto US 169
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
H Avenue
18
Continue on US 169
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
N Avenue
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
20
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
21
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
22
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
23
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
24
Continue on IA 141
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on IA 141
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
26
Turn left onto Meredith Drive
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Meredith Drive
27
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
28
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Maryland Drive
29
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
For this 1h 56m drive, leaving anytime should be manageable given the short duration. Since there are no designated stops and it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $13, and plan for a gas stop before you leave Carroll, IA, or in Urbandale, IA, upon arrival. The longest stretch without a major turn is over 20 miles on 220th Street, so be prepared for steady driving on local roads during that segment.
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 40.9 miles from Carroll, IA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.5 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.9 miles or 58m 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 36m
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 Carroll, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carroll, IA
This is one driving day of about 81.8 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Carroll, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 20.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.9 miles from Carroll, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 54.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 30 / East 6th Street
Turn left onto US 30 / East 6th Street
Navigation decision point
4
33.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
IA 144 / 9th N Street
Turn right onto IA 144 / 9th N Street
Navigation decision point
5
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 169 / H Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto US 169 / H Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 141 east: Urbandale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.79 one way
$25.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.04 | $28.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.74 | $31.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.06 | $36.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.59 | $3.93 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.16 | $3.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.45 | $5.24 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Morning in Urbandale on Tuesday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 56m 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 entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway share. You'll encounter your longest stretch without a significant turn on 220th Street for 20.5 miles. Expect to navigate through local roads for the majority of your travel time. This means you'll likely be passing through towns and rural areas at a consistent pace.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 20.5 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 10 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 30 / East 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles (IA 144 / 9th N Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 81.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 20.5 miles on 220th Street. 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: Navigation decision point; near the start (US 30 / East 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.1 miles (IA 144 / 9th N 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.
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