Council Bluffs, IA to Wellman, IA is 244 miles and takes about 4h 41m via I 80 and State Highway 22, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Iowa, making it a convenient drive for those already in the area. Expect a straightforward journey primarily on major highways. With a travel time under five hours, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace without needing an overnight stay. Consider this route for its efficiency and ease of navigation.
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
122 miles from Council Bluffs, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
207.6 mi
3h 44m
State Highway 22
12.8 mi
18m
M Avenue
11.7 mi
16m
State Highway 149
5.2 mi
7m
West Kanesville Boulevard
4.2 mi
7m
West Broadway
1 mi
2m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
6th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 207.6 mi, about 3h 44m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,239 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,656
Quietest
2 AM
~192 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Wellman, 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
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward Merango, North English
9
Turn right onto CR V66
12 mi·16 min·M Avenue
10
Continue on IA 149
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 149
11
Turn left onto IA 22
0.4 mi·34 sec·Main Street
12
Continue on IA 22
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 22
13
Continue on IA 22
0.3 mi·24 sec·6th Street
14
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·9th Avenue
15
Turn left
173 ft·14 sec
16
At end of road, turn right
104 ft·7 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 41m duration, departing Council Bluffs in the morning will allow you to reach Wellman with plenty of daylight remaining. The longest stretch on I 80 is over 200 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get too low, as services can be spaced out. While this is a single-day trip, the flexibility of having under five hours of driving means you can adjust your departure time or linger at any point of interest. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 80 to State Highway 22, as this marks a shift in the road character.
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 122 miles from Council Bluffs, IA, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 207.6 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 54 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 122 miles or 2h 16m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wellman, 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 244 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 207.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 119.2 and 244 — 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.
5
213 mi into trip|~3h 55m in
Take the exit toward Merango, North English
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Merango, North English
5
243.8 mi into trip|~4h 40m in|9th Avenue
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
244 mi into trip|~4h 41m in
At end of road, turn right
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.57 one way
$81.13 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$44.19
$88.38
premium
$5.18
$49.79
$99.58
diesel
$5.35
$51.39
$102.79
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: 85.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
73.2
0
$25.62
$11.71
Efficient EV
61
0
$21.35
$9.76
EV Truck/SUV
97.6
1
$34.16
$15.62
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
29 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 May 21, 2026
Origin
Council Bluffs, IA
Afternoon
in Council Bluffs on Wednesday
Local time
3:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
ENE 6 mph19% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wellman, IA
Afternoon
in Wellman on Wednesday
Local time
3:12 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 to 10 mph2% 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
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
4h 41m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey utilizing major roadways like I 80. You'll experience a significant stretch of 207.6 miles on I 80, offering a consistent pace for a considerable portion of your travel. While the majority of the route is on high-speed highways, the inclusion of State Highway 22 and M Avenue suggests a transition to more local roads as you approach your destination. This mix provides a balanced driving experience, minimizing time on slower roads while still offering a change of scenery toward the end.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 207.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 22. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 119.2 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 244 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 213 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,382 ft700 ft
Total Climb
501 ft
Total Descent
790 ft
Highest Point
1,382 ft
~69.7 mi in
Elevation Range
681 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 Wellman, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Merango and English.
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 4h 41m. Total distance: 244 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 207.6 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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.
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 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 213 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Wellman, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
