If you are planning a straightforward trek across Iowa, the 196.5-mile journey from Council Bluffs to Brooklyn is a highly manageable trip. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 3 hours and 40 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $30 for fuel as you navigate this Midwest route. Because 96% of the trip is highway-focused, you will spend the vast majority of your time cruising on major thoroughfares. This is a practical, efficient path for travelers looking to move quickly between these two points without unnecessary detours.
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
98.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
188 mi
3h 23m
West Kanesville Boulevard
4.2 mi
7m
County Road V18
1.8 mi
3m
West Broadway
1 mi
2m
Clay Street
0.6 mi
1m
Jackson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
CR V18
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 188 mi, about 3h 23m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,239 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,656
Quietest
2 AM
~192 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Council Bluffs, IA and Brooklyn, 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
114 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 80
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
60 mi·1 hr 4 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward Brooklyn
9
Turn left onto CR V18
1.8 mi·3 min·County Road V18
10
Continue on CR V18
0.6 mi·1 min·Clay Street
11
Turn slight left onto CR V18; US 6 Hist
406 ft·10 sec·CR V18; US 6 Hist
12
Turn right onto CR V18
0.3 mi·26 sec·Jackson Street
13
Arrive at destination
CR V18
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one stop will help keep you refreshed during the 3 hour and 40 minute journey. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when you hit that long 188-mile stretch on I-80 to avoid getting caught low on gas between exits. Because the route is almost entirely highway-based, check traffic reports for I-80 before you leave Council Bluffs to ensure there are no major delays. Using your single planned stop to stretch your legs before turning off onto County Road V18 will ensure you arrive in Brooklyn feeling sharp and ready for whatever is next on your itinerary.
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 98.3 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.3 miles or 1h 50m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Council Bluffs, 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 Council Bluffs, IA
This is one driving day of about 196.5 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Council Bluffs, 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 188 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 196.3 — 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.
9
119.2 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
133.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
4
193.4 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Take the exit toward Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Brooklyn
5
196.3 mi into trip|~3h 39m in|CR V18 / Jackson Street
Turn right onto CR V18 / Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.67 one way
$65.34 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$35.59
$71.17
premium
$5.18
$40.10
$80.19
diesel
$5.35
$41.39
$82.78
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59
0
$20.63
$9.43
Efficient EV
49.1
0
$17.19
$7.86
EV Truck/SUV
78.6
0
$27.51
$12.58
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 May 29, 2026
Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon
in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 7 to 12 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brooklyn, IA
Afternoon
in Brooklyn on Wednesday
Local time
4:55 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
E 2 to 6 mph17% chanceLive 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 40m 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 classic interstate experience on this route, dominated by a massive 188-mile stretch on I-80. While the drive begins on West Kanesville Boulevard and concludes with a transition onto County Road V18, the highway-focused nature of the trip means your time behind the wheel will be consistent and predictable. The route maintains a steady pace, lacking the technical turns or winding backroads found in more mountainous regions. You will find that the road remains largely uniform as you transition across the state. It is the type of drive where you can settle into a rhythm and cover significant distance with minimal complexity.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and West Kanesville Boulevard. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 40m drive. You will face about 7 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 119.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,430 ft795 ft
Total Climb
613 ft
Total Descent
693 ft
Highest Point
1,430 ft
~70.2 mi in
Elevation Range
635 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Council Bluffs, IA and Brooklyn, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
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
The longest stretch is about 188 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.
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 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 119.2 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Brooklyn, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
