Council Bluffs to Postville is 315.4 miles and takes about 6h 29m via I 80 and surface roads, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. The route mixes highway cruising with more local road driving, offering a straightforward path across the state. It's a manageable one-day drive, suitable for those looking for an efficient way to get from western to northeastern Iowa.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
157.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
132.7 mi
2h 24m
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
Larrabee Avenue
22.8 mi
26m
Harding Road
16.9 mi
23m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
230th Street
13 mi
17m
US 20
11.2 mi
12m
270th Street
10.9 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 132.7 mi, about 2h 24m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,197 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~230 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
13.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 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 Postville, 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
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
12
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
13
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
14
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
15
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
16
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
17
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
18
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
19
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
20
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
21
Merge onto US 20
11 mi·12 min·US 20
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
23
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
24
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
25
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
8 ft·0 sec·Greenhill Road
26
Continue on Greenhill Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Greenhill Road
27
Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58
2.7 mi·3 min·Avenue of the Saints
28
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 185Toward US 218 South: WaterlooUse the slight right lane.
29
Merge onto US 218
0.7 mi·48 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Broadway Street: Airport
31
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.3 mi·35 sec·Airport Boulevard
32
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi·5 min·West Airline Highway
33
Turn left onto US 63
6.9 mi·8 min·Logan Avenue
34
Continue on US 63
23 mi·26 min·Larrabee Avenue
35
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
36
At end of road, turn left onto US 18
5.4 mi·7 min·270th Street
37
Continue on US 18
0.9 mi·1 min·West Main Street
38
Continue on US 18
5.5 mi·7 min·270th Street
39
Continue on US 18
13 mi·17 min·230th Street
40
Continue on US 18
1.3 mi·1 min·West Bradford Street
41
Continue on US 18
17 mi·23 min·Harding Road
42
Turn left onto IA 51
38 ft·0 sec·North Lawler Street
43
Arrive at destination
IA 51
Trip Plan
For this 6.5-hour drive, leaving Council Bluffs in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. The route is feasible for a single day, so you don't need to plan an overnight stay. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I 80 to the surface roads, as services might be less frequent. A good time to refuel would be before you leave I 80 to ensure you have plenty of gas for the final leg.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 157.7 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.7 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 69 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.7 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Postville, 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 315.4 miles and 6h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 132.7 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 119.2 and 237.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
138.1 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
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 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
5
211.2 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
237.2 mi into trip|~4h 44m in
Take the exit toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 185
Toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.61 one way
$105.22 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$57.18
$114.36
premium
$5.26
$65.30
$130.61
diesel
$6.18
$76.73
$153.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.6
1
$33.12
$15.14
Efficient EV
78.9
0
$27.60
$12.62
EV Truck/SUV
126.2
1
$44.16
$20.19
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Evening
in Council Bluffs on Monday
Local time
7:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
SSE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Postville, IA
Evening
in Postville on Monday
Local time
7:23 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
158 mi in
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
6h 29m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings o...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 315.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive spends about 46% of its time on highways, with the remaining 54% on surface roads. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch of highway at 132.7 miles on I 80. After that, expect to transition to roads like Northeast Hubbell Road and Larrabee Avenue, which will likely have more frequent intersections and slower speed limits. The change from high-speed interstate to surface roads is a noticeable shift in driving pace.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 119.2 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 315.4 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 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; at 138.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,413 ft885 ft
Total Climb
908 ft
Total Descent
715 ft
Highest Point
1,413 ft
~67.6 mi in
Elevation Range
528 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 Postville, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant, Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 29m. Total distance: 315.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 29m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 132.7 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Postville, 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. There are 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 138.1 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Effigy Mounds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Postville, IA before the return drive.
