Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Late night in Council Bluffs on Sunday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Atlantic, 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 13m
Distance
59.3 mi
96 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlantic, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 59.3-mile drive from Council Bluffs, IA, to Atlantic, IA, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-80, with brief sections on 590th Street and West Kanesville Boulevard, this route keeps you on well-maintained highways for about 80% of the journey. The estimated fuel cost for this short excursion is around $9, making it an economical option for a quick getaway within the Midwest region. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, it's best suited for travelers looking for an efficient transit rather than an extended scenic exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 45.5 mi | 48m |
| 590th Street | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| West Kanesville Boulevard | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 83 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West Broadway | 1 mi | 2m |
| West 6th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Sunnyside Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Marne Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 45.5 mi, about 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Atlantic, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
2
Continue on West Broadway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Broadway
3
Continue on West Kanesville Boulevard
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
West Kanesville Boulevard
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto I 80
45 mi
·
48 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward IA 173
7
Turn right onto IA 173
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
590th Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto IA 83
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 83
9
Continue on IA 83
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Marne Road
10
Turn right onto Sunnyside Lane
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Sunnyside Lane
11
Turn left onto West 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 6th Street
12
Turn right onto IA 83
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Poplar Street
13
Turn left
160 ft
·
11 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.7 miles from Council Bluffs, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 59.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
5.2 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
50.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward IA 173
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 173
4
56.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
IA 83 / State Highway 83
At end of road, turn left onto IA 83 / State Highway 83
Navigation decision point
5
58.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
Sunnyside Lane
Turn right onto Sunnyside Lane
Navigation decision point
5
59.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.27 one way
$18.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $10.18 | $20.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.41 | $22.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.09 | $26.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.80 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Atlantic, IA
Late night in Atlantic on Sunday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Avoca, IA
30 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 13m 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 the majority of this 59.3-mile drive, with 80% of the route dedicated to interstate travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 45.5 miles on I-80, offering a consistent pace. This segment is characterized by its efficiency, allowing for steady progress. While the profile is largely highway, you will transition onto local roads like 590th Street and West Kanesville Boulevard, offering a slight change of pace before reaching Atlantic. The drive is designed for direct travel, prioritizing speed and ease of navigation.
80% 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: 45.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and 590th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
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 13m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 56.1 miles (IA 83 / State Highway 83): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 59.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.5 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 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 56.1 miles (IA 83 / State Highway 83): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atlantic, 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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