Fairbank, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is 266.1 miles and takes about 5 hours 18 minutes via I 80 and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a straightforward drive. Plan for a single day of travel, as the duration is well within a comfortable driving window.
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
133.1 miles from Fairbank, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
120.2 mi
2h 9m
IA 330
35.9 mi
42m
Avenue of the Saints
23.5 mi
27m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
US 65
13 mi
15m
US 20
12.7 mi
14m
Baxter Avenue
10.6 mi
14m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 120.2 mi, about 2h 9m
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 Fairbank, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on IA 281
69 ft·6 sec·4th Street South
2
Turn left onto IA 281
0.5 mi·49 sec·Main Street East
3
Turn left onto IA 281
0.3 mi·51 sec·Walnut Street South
4
Continue on CR V62
1.5 mi·2 min·Baxter Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto CR V62
136 ft·2 sec·Baxter Avenue
6
Continue on CR V62
9.0 mi·12 min·Baxter Avenue
7
Continue on V62
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
At end of road, turn left onto CR D22
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Street
9
Turn right onto V65
1.2 mi·1 min·Benson Shady Grove Avenue
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
11
Merge onto US 20
13 mi·14 min·US 20
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
23 mi·27 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
14
Turn left onto IA 14
4.5 mi·6 min·N Avenue
15
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
16
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
17
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
18
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
19
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
20
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
21
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·North Main Street
22
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
23
Turn right onto IA 330
36 mi·42 min·IA 330
24
Take the exit onto US 65
13 mi·15 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi·6 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
19 mi·20 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
29
Turn straight onto IA 906
2.8 mi·4 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
30
Continue on IA 906
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Broadway
31
Continue on IA 906
0.9 mi·2 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
32
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi·50 sec·West Broadway
33
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
Trip Plan
Given the 5 hour 18 minute drive time, leaving Fairbank in the morning will get you to Council Bluffs with plenty of daylight to spare. You'll only need one stop, so consider taking it around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The longest stretch on I 80 is over 120 miles, so make sure you have enough fuel before embarking on that portion. With a fuel cost estimated at $44, it's an economical trip. Being a single-day drive, you have flexibility to depart later if needed.
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 133.1 miles from Fairbank, IA, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.2 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 59 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 133.1 miles or 2h 50m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Council Bluffs, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairbank, 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 Fairbank, IA
This is one driving day of about 266.1 miles and 5h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Fairbank, 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 120.2 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 50.4 and 242.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
50.4 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
5
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|County Road T37
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
128.4 mi into trip|~2h 44m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
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.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
147 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
6
242.5 mi into trip|~4h 49m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.30 one way
$78.59 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.38
$86.77
premium
$4.72
$49.41
$98.81
diesel
$4.80
$50.24
$100.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.8
0
$27.94
$12.77
Efficient EV
66.5
0
$23.28
$10.64
EV Truck/SUV
106.4
1
$37.25
$17.03
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Fairbank, IA
Late night
in Fairbank on Sunday
Local time
1:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SW 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Council Bluffs, IA
Late night
in Council Bluffs on Sunday
Local time
1:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Clear
S 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
5h 18m 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 mostly highway, with 68% of the total distance covered on major roads like I 80 and Avenue of the Saints. You'll encounter a stretch of 120.2 miles on I 80, which is the longest continuous segment without needing to exit. The route transitions from surface roads to highway driving, and eventually back to surface roads as you approach your destination. Expect a good amount of rural cruising with a moderate number of exits along the way.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 120.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IA 330. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 50.4 miles in.
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 21 significant decision points across 266.1 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 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.3 miles (County Road T37): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 128.4 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
1,320 ft893 ft
Total Climb
647 ft
Total Descent
641 ft
Highest Point
1,320 ft
~189.5 mi in
Elevation Range
427 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairbank, IA and Council Bluffs, IA, road signs point toward Grundy Center and Omaha Nebraska.
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 18m. Total distance: 266.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 120.2 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 Council Bluffs, 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 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.3 miles (County Road T37): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 128.4 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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Council Bluffs, IA before the return drive.
