Council Bluffs to Waverly is 251.6 miles and takes about 5 hours 3 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a straightforward drive across the state. The mix of major interstate and surface roads means you'll experience different driving conditions. It’s a practical choice for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay if you start early.
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
125.8 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
132.7 mi
2h 24m
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
Avenue of the Saints
14.4 mi
17m
US 20
11.2 mi
12m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 132.7 mi, about 2h 24m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 14 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 Waverly, 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
14 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
28
Take the exit onto US 218 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·US 218 Business
29
Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest
0.6 mi·59 sec·4th Avenue Southwest
30
Continue on US 218 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·4th Street Southwest
31
Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest
0.2 mi·18 sec·4th Avenue Southwest
32
Turn straight onto US 218 Business
0.6 mi·1 min·4th Street Southwest
33
Turn right onto IA 3
62 ft·2 sec·West Bremer Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
IA 3
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Council Bluffs in the morning to make the most of the 5-hour drive duration and arrive in Waverly with daylight to spare. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 132.7 miles on I 80, you can plan your break strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $39, and it's wise to top off before leaving I 80 for the surface roads, as services might be less frequent. This is a manageable drive for one day, offering flexibility for when you depart.
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 125.8 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 20m 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 55 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 20m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waverly, 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 251.6 miles and 5h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 119.2 and 233.2 — 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
5
233.2 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|Greenhill Road
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.83 one way
$83.66 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$45.57
$91.13
premium
$5.18
$51.34
$102.68
diesel
$5.35
$52.99
$105.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.42
$12.08
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.02
$10.06
EV Truck/SUV
100.6
1
$35.22
$16.10
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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 May 29, 2026
Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon
in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 6 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Waverly, IA
Afternoon
in Waverly on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Cloudy
ESE 8 mph1% 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
8 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
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?
This drive is 58% highway, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 80. The longest stretch on the interstate is 132.7 miles, so expect a good amount of continuous driving before transitioning. You'll be on Northeast Hubbell Road and Sanford Avenue for the latter part of the trip, which will feel more like local cruising after the interstate segment. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for a change in pace and road type.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 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?
7/10
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 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 18 significant decision points across 251.6 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
1,380 ft891 ft
Total Climb
613 ft
Total Descent
688 ft
Highest Point
1,380 ft
~71.9 mi in
Elevation Range
489 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 Waverly, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Bondurant and Cr D18: Cedar Falls.
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 5h 3m. Total distance: 251.6 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.
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 Waverly, 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.
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 Waverly, IA before the return drive.
