Connecting Eldridge to Urbandale, this 171.6-mile trek across the Iowa landscape is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 12 minutes. Because the route is compact and efficient, it works perfectly as a one-day trip, saving you the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to budget roughly $26 for fuel, making it a very cost-effective way to travel between these two Midwest locales. With 98% of your time spent on major highways, the experience is largely about getting from point A to point B without unnecessary detours. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a predictable, direct path across the state.
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
85.8 miles from Eldridge, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
94.1 mi
1h 41m
US 61
73.3 mi
1h 20m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
East Leclaire Road
0.6 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
North 1st Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Donahue Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.1 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eldridge, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on North 2nd Street
73 ft·5 sec·North 2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Donahue Street
312 ft·12 sec·Donahue Street
3
Turn right onto North 1st Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·North 1st Street
4
Turn left onto East Leclaire Road
0.6 mi·1 min·East Leclaire Road
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
6
Merge onto US 61
3.4 mi·3 min·US 61
7
Take the exit onto US 61
70 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 61
8
Continue on I 80
94 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
11
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
12
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
13
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for a single well-timed stop will help keep you refreshed. Given that I-80 makes up the bulk of your travel, stay alert for changes in traffic flow as you approach the Urbandale area. If you find the 3-hour duration beginning to drag, use your one planned stop to stretch your legs rather than pushing through the entire 171.6 miles at once. Keep your fuel gauge in mind before hitting the longest 94.1-mile stretch to ensure you aren't searching for a station during the most isolated parts of the interstate. Taking advantage of the early morning hours can often help you avoid the heavier commuter traffic near your destination.
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 85.8 miles from Eldridge, IA, or about 1h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.1 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 38 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.8 miles or 1h 36m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Eldridge, 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 Eldridge, IA
This is one driving day of about 171.6 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Eldridge, 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 94.1 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 0 and 170.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Donahue Street
Turn right onto Donahue Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|North 1st Street
Turn right onto North 1st Street
Navigation decision point
8
168.7 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville...
4
169.7 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|Meredith Drive
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
Navigation decision point
4
170.4 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|70th Street
Turn left onto 70th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.83 one way
$53.66 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.46
$58.91
premium
$4.89
$33.02
$66.05
diesel
$5.61
$37.89
$75.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.5
0
$18.02
$8.24
Efficient EV
42.9
0
$15.01
$6.86
EV Truck/SUV
68.6
0
$24.02
$10.98
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 15, 2026
Origin
Eldridge, IA
Night
in Eldridge on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
86 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 12m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, dominated by your time on I-80. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on high-speed roads, punctuated by short transitions on US 61 and 70th Street. Prepare yourself for a steady rhythm, as your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 94.1 miles on I-80 alone. While the route maintains a consistent pace, the transition from rural stretches to the more developed areas near Urbandale marks a noticeable shift in traffic density. Expect a functional, no-nonsense experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding, scenic detours.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 61. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Donahue Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Eldridge, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 3h 12m with 98% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Donahue Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 168.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 171.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 94.1 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.
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: near the start (Donahue Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (North 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 168.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Urbandale, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
