If you are planning a trip from Centerville to Urbandale, you are looking at a straightforward 94.3-mile journey across the Iowa heartland. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 12 minutes on the road, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You will rely primarily on IA 5 and North 18th Street to navigate between these two Midwestern locales. With a fuel budget of approximately $14, the trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. Since the entire route stays within the state of Iowa, the transition between these regions is seamless and familiar. It is a manageable drive that doesn't require an overnight stay, allowing you the flexibility to complete your business or visit and head back home in one go.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.1 miles from Centerville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
35.9 mi
49m
North 18th Street
20.7 mi
30m
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
South Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
8th Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 35.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centerville, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on North 13th Street
164 ft·7 sec·North 13th Street
2
Continue on North 13th Street
289 ft·22 sec·North 13th Street
3
Turn right onto East State Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East State Street
4
Turn left onto IA 5
21 mi·30 min·North 18th Street
5
Continue on IA 5
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
6
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 5
25 mi·37 min·IA 5
7
Take the ramp onto IA 5
11 mi·12 min·IA 5
8
Turn right
0.1 mi·7 sec
9
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 5
10
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
7.5 mi·8 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 99Toward IA 28: Norwalk, MartensdaleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto IA 28
5.0 mi·8 min·IA 28
13
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.5 mi·59 sec·Grand Avenue
14
Turn right onto 8th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·8th Street
15
Continue on 73rd Street
1.9 mi·3 min·73rd Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on 72nd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·72nd Street
17
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi·1 min·Roseland Drive
18
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft·10 sec·70th Street
19
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 2-hour-plus trip, you have plenty of scheduling freedom regarding when to hit the road. To avoid potential traffic as you approach the Urbandale area, try to time your departure to miss peak morning or evening commute hours. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this 94.3-mile distance, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever you need a quick break or a refill. Keep that $14 fuel estimate in mind when planning your budget, and consider topping off your tank before leaving Centerville to ensure a stress-free trip. If you find yourself needing a breather, remember that the lack of planned stops means you are entirely in control of your own pace.
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 47.1 miles from Centerville, IA, or about 1h 11m 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 1h 11m 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 46m
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 Centerville, 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 Centerville, IA
This is one driving day of about 94.3 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Centerville, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 94.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
4
21.9 mi into trip|~33m in|IA 5
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 5
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
46.9 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|IA 5
Take the ramp onto IA 5
Navigation decision point
8
84.7 mi into trip|~1h 54m 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
94.3 mi into trip|~2h 12m in|Maryland Drive
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.74 one way
$29.49 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.19
$32.37
premium
$4.89
$18.15
$36.29
diesel
$5.61
$20.82
$41.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.53
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.25
$3.77
EV Truck/SUV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.04
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Centerville, IA
Night
in Centerville on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
47 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
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 12m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with about 64% of your time spent on main thoroughfares like IA 5. You will find yourself settling into a steady rhythm, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.9 miles on IA 5. The road personality shifts from local streets to more consistent highway driving as you make your way north. Behind the wheel, you can expect a functional experience that favors efficiency over technical complexity. Because the route is relatively short, you won't face the fatigue often associated with longer interstate grinds, letting you focus on the steady pace of the Iowa landscape.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 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 North 18th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East State Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 12m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 46.9 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,004 ft784 ft
Total Climb
233 ft
Total Descent
293 ft
Highest Point
1,004 ft
Elevation Range
220 ft
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 Centerville, IA to Urbandale, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Martensdale along the way.
Martensdale
84.7 mi in|~1h 54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 94.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 5): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 46.9 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Urbandale, IA before heading back.
