Council Bluffs, IA to Pleasantville, IA is 154.7 miles and takes about 2h 56m via I 80 and IA 5, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, covering ground in Iowa. Given its relatively short distance and primarily highway profile, it's a straightforward trip suitable for a single day. You'll find the driving experience largely consistent, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points efficiently.
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
77.4 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
114.1 mi
2h 2m
IA 5
16.7 mi
20m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi
14m
West Kanesville Boulevard
4.2 mi
7m
I 35
3.8 mi
4m
West Broadway
1 mi
2m
West Jasper Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Ramp 72 H
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 114.1 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Pleasantville, 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
0.3 mi·18 sec·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 H
0.4 mi·51 sec·Ramp 72 H
Exit 123BToward I 35 South: Kansas City
8
Merge onto I 35
3.8 mi·4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 68Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, NorwalkUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on IA 5
13 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto IA 5
17 mi·20 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
12
Turn left onto CR G40
0.2 mi·19 sec·County Highway G40
13
Continue on CR G40
0.4 mi·49 sec·West Jasper Street
14
Turn left onto South Washington Street
94 ft·4 sec·South Washington Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Washington Street
Trip Plan
For this 2h 56m drive, leaving Council Bluffs in the morning is ideal, allowing you to reach Pleasantville with plenty of daylight remaining. With only 154.7 miles, you don't need to plan for an overnight stay, offering flexibility. The fuel cost is estimated at $24, so be sure to fill up before you depart or at a convenient point on I 80. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without an exit is over 114 miles.
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 77.4 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 114.1 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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.4 miles or 1h 28m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasantville, 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 154.7 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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 114.1 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 123.7 — 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...
5
119.5 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|Ramp 72 H
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 H toward I 35 South: Kansas City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 123B
Toward I 35 South: Kansas City
5
119.9 mi into trip|~2h 14m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
123.7 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
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 68
Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.19 one way
$48.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.55
$53.11
premium
$4.89
$29.77
$59.54
diesel
$5.61
$34.16
$68.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
25 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Metro Crossing Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.43
Efficient EV
38.7
0
$13.54
$6.19
EV Truck/SUV
61.9
0
$21.66
$9.90
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 18, 2026
Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Night
in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Mostly Clear
W 3 to 18 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 1:08PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 12:42PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Pleasantville, IA
Night
in Pleasantville on Saturday
Local time
9:54 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Sunny
WNW 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 18 at 1:08PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 12:42PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
16 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 56m 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?
You'll spend about 87% of your time on the highway, with the longest stretch covering 114.1 miles on I 80. This means you'll experience extended periods of consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive, offering a change of pace from the Interstate. Expect a steady flow of traffic and relatively frequent exits on the highway portions.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 114.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IA 5. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 154.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 119.5 miles (Ramp 72 H): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 Pleasantville, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Norwalk.
Minneapolis
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Kansas City
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Des Moines
123.7 mi in|~2h 18m
Norwalk
123.7 mi in|~2h 18m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 154.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 114.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Pleasantville, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 119.5 miles (Ramp 72 H): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pleasantville, IA before heading back.
