Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Morning in Council Bluffs on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Council Bluffs, IA to Pleasant Hill, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
134.2 mi
216 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 37m
8 AM
2h 58m
10 AM
2h 44m
12 PM
2h 42m
3 PM
2h 45m
5 PM
2h 57m
8 PM
2h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Pleasant Hill, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Council Bluffs, IA to Pleasant Hill, IA is 134.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward trip primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. The route is well-suited for those prioritizing efficiency and ease of travel between these two locations. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll find this drive covers a manageable distance.
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
67.1 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 113.8 mi | 2h 2m |
| John MacVicar Freeway | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| West Kanesville Boulevard | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| Dean Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| East University Avenue | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| West Broadway | 1 mi | 2m |
| East 30th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Fairview Drive | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 113.8 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Pleasant Hill, 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 left at fork onto I 235
10 mi
·
13 min
·
John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 10A
Toward IA 163 East: East University Avenue, State Fairgrounds
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn straight onto IA 163
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East University Avenue
9
Turn right onto East 30th Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 30th Street
10
Turn left onto Dean Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Dean Avenue
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on Fairview Drive
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairview Drive
12
Turn right onto North Pleasant Hill Boulevard
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Pleasant Hill Boulevard
13
Turn left onto Doanes Park Road
62 ft
·
4 sec
·
Doanes Park Road
14
Arrive at destination
Doanes Park Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours and 37 minutes, this trip is easily accomplished in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or simply to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; however, plan for a fuel refill before leaving Council Bluffs, as the longest stretch without a significant change in major road is over 113 miles. This ensures you won't need to worry about finding services during that extended highway 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 67.1 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 113.8 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 30 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.1 miles or 1h 17m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant Hill, 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 134.2 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 113.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 67.1 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 113.8 miles.
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 75 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 131.8 — 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.
3
5.4 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining
8
119.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
|
I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
129.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward IA 163 East: East University Avenue, State Fairgrounds
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10A
Toward IA 163 East: East University Avenue, Sta...
5
131.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 31m in
|
Dean Avenue
Turn left onto Dean Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.98 one way
$41.96 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
47 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.04 | $46.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.83 | $51.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.63 | $59.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.3 | 0 | $14.09 | $6.44 |
| Efficient EV | 33.6 | 0 | $11.74 | $5.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.7 | 0 | $18.79 | $8.59 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Pleasant Hill, IA
Morning in Pleasant Hill on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°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 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 37m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 80. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 113.8 miles on I 80, which forms the backbone of this trip. The route generally maintains a consistent highway character, meaning you can expect relatively fast speeds and direct travel for the majority of your time on the road. While the primary roads are I 80, John MacVicar Freeway, and West Kanesville Boulevard, the overall feel is one of continuous highway travel.
92% 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: 113.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. 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 2h 37m 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 5.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 119.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Council Bluffs, IA
Full guide →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."
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 37m. Total distance: 134.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 113.8 miles on I 80. 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 5.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.4 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 119.2 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pleasant Hill, 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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