Spanning 261.5 miles across the heart of Iowa, this trip from Council Bluffs to Springville takes approximately 5 hours and 3 minutes of drive time. Because the journey is manageable within a single day, it serves as a straightforward transit across the Midwest rather than a multi-day expedition. You should anticipate a fuel budget of roughly $40 to complete the trek. Utilizing a blend of I-80, the Lincoln Highway, and Northeast Hubbell Road, the route offers a practical connection between these two points. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick change of scenery, this one-day itinerary provides a reliable path through the state.
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
130.8 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
132.7 mi
2h 24m
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
IA 100
9.4 mi
11m
Collins Road Northeast
5.9 mi
7m
Marion Airport Road
5.7 mi
6m
West Kanesville Boulevard
4.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 132.7 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs, IA and Springville, 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
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
13
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
15
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
16
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
17
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
18
Turn right onto US 151
5.7 mi·6 min·Marion Airport Road
19
Turn left onto CR X20
509 ft·10 sec·Springville Road
20
Continue on CR X20
0.2 mi·24 sec·6th Street
21
Turn right onto CR X20
0.2 mi·25 sec·1st Avenue
22
Turn left onto CR X20
0.4 mi·39 sec·Broadway Street
23
Turn right onto John Street
202 ft·10 sec·John Street
24
Turn right onto Water Street
56 ft·2 sec·Water Street
25
Arrive at destination
Water Street
Trip Plan
Planning for a single stop is your best strategy to keep the 5-hour, 3-minute drive comfortable. Since this route is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though aiming for an early start helps you avoid potential congestion on the busier highway segments. Keep a close watch on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 132.7-mile stretch on I-80, to ensure you don't run low while away from services. Use your one planned stop as a genuine break to stretch your legs rather than just a quick refuel. Prioritizing this pause will help you maintain energy for the final transition onto Northeast Hubbell Road as you approach Springville.
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 130.8 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 26m 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 58 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.8 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Springville, 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 261.5 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 119.2 and 260.9 — 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
237.5 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
5
260.9 mi into trip|~5h 1m in|CR X20 / 1st Avenue
Turn right onto CR X20 / 1st Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.88 one way
$81.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$44.89
$89.77
premium
$4.89
$50.32
$100.65
diesel
$5.61
$57.74
$115.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.5
0
$27.46
$12.55
Efficient EV
65.4
0
$22.88
$10.46
EV Truck/SUV
104.6
1
$36.61
$16.74
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Partly Cloudy
NNW 10 to 16 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning issued April 17 at 11:29PM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Springville, IA
Night
in Springville on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
14 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
5h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 mixed driving experience that balances high-speed efficiency with localized navigation. Roughly 55% of your journey takes place on highways, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 132.7 miles while cruising on I-80, which requires steady focus behind the wheel. As you transition away from the interstate portions and onto the Lincoln Highway and Northeast Hubbell Road, the character of the drive shifts from a wide-open interstate grind to a more varied, mixed-road environment. This contrast keeps the drive engaging as you navigate the different road types throughout the 261.5-mile total distance.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 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 15 significant decision points across 261.5 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.
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 Springville, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Marion.
Minneapolis
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Kansas City
119.2 mi in|~2h 13m|via I 80
Bondurant
138.1 mi in|~2h 35m|via US 65
Marion
237.5 mi in|~4h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 3m. Total distance: 261.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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.
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.
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 Springville, 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 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Springville, IA before the return drive.
