Spanning 149.8 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Charles City to Urbandale is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 51 minutes. You can easily complete this trip in a single day, making it a convenient option for travelers looking to move between these two Midwestern points. Budget approximately $23 for fuel to cover the distance, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, you will find it to be a reliable and predictable trip. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, this drive offers a simple, efficient connection that avoids the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.9 miles from Charles City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
109 mi
1h 58m
Avenue of the Saints
32.9 mi
37m
Gilbert Street
2.5 mi
4m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
US 218 Business
0.3 mi
<1m
Clark Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 109 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charles City, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on US 18
31 ft·2 sec·4th Avenue
2
Continue on US 18
0.1 mi·25 sec·Brantingham Street
3
Turn right onto Clark Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Clark Street
4
Turn left onto North Main Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·North Main Street
5
Turn right onto US 218 Business
2.5 mi·4 min·Gilbert Street
6
Turn straight onto US 218 Business
0.2 mi·13 sec·185th Street
7
Take the ramp onto US 218 Business
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 218 Business
8
Merge onto US 18; US 218; IA 27
33 mi·37 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·32 sec·this road
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
11
Merge onto I 35
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·7 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
15
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
16
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
17
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 149.8-mile transit, plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly three-hour duration. Because the majority of your time is spent on I-35, keep an eye on traffic patterns as you approach the Urbandale area. Leaving in the mid-morning or early afternoon can help you avoid potential congestion during peak commute times. Since the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace without feeling rushed. A helpful tip for this specific route is to check your fuel levels before merging onto I-35, as that 109-mile stretch is where you will do the vast majority of your driving.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.9 miles from Charles City, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.9 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
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 Charles City, 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 Charles City, IA
This is one driving day of about 149.8 miles and 2h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Charles City, 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 35 for about 109 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 146.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Clark Street
Turn right onto Clark Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
37.9 mi into trip|~47m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
140.6 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
146.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
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 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.42 one way
$46.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.71
$51.43
premium
$4.89
$28.83
$57.66
diesel
$5.61
$33.07
$66.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.9
0
$15.73
$7.19
Efficient EV
37.5
0
$13.11
$5.99
EV Truck/SUV
59.9
0
$20.97
$9.59
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Charles City, IA
Late night
in Charles City on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Late night
in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 7 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
11 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
2h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive defined by its efficiency, as 73% of your journey takes place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-35, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 109 miles. While the route also utilizes the Avenue of the Saints and Gilbert Street, the experience remains consistent and fast-paced. Navigating these major corridors provides a steady rhythm, shifting from regional highway travel into the more developed areas near Urbandale. It is a functional, highway-heavy trek that prioritizes speed and directness over winding scenic detours.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Avenue of the Saints. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Clark 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 51m drive. You will face about 12 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 (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,219 ft876 ft
Total Climb
399 ft
Total Descent
463 ft
Highest Point
1,219 ft
~32.1 mi in
Elevation Range
343 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Charles City, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Davenport.
Council Bluffs
140.6 mi in|~2h 37m|via I 35
Davenport
140.6 mi in|~2h 37m|via I 35
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 51m. Total distance: 149.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 109 miles on I 35. 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 (Clark Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Urbandale, IA before heading back.
