Traveling from George to Council Bluffs covers 163.1 miles through the heart of the Iowa Midwest. You can expect the journey to take approximately 3 hours and 18 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of about $25, this route is quite affordable for a solo traveler or a small group. You will navigate a mix of US 75, IA 60, and Jackson Avenue to reach your destination. Because the duration is manageable, there is no need to worry about overnight splits, allowing you to easily complete the drive in one sitting.
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
81.6 miles from George, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 75
30.1 mi
36m
IA 60
10.4 mi
12m
Jackson Avenue
8 mi
10m
County Road K64
7.4 mi
10m
L14
5.7 mi
8m
Kennedy Avenue
3.8 mi
5m
320th Street
3 mi
4m
Albany Avenue
1.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
US 75
— 30.1 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between George, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on North Main Street
377 ft·17 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Boiler Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Virginia Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Virginia Street
4
Continue on L14
5.7 mi·8 min·L14
5
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi·5 min·Kennedy Avenue
6
Continue on CR L14
0.5 mi·1 min·Colfax Street
7
Turn right onto US 18
3.0 mi·4 min·320th Street
8
Turn left onto CR K64
8.0 mi·10 min·Jackson Avenue
9
Continue on County Road K64
3.7 mi·5 min·County Road K64
10
Continue on Albany Avenue
1.9 mi·5 min·Albany Avenue
11
Continue on Albany Place
0.5 mi·54 sec·Albany Place
12
Continue on County Road K64
3.7 mi·5 min·County Road K64
13
Turn right onto IA 60
10 mi·12 min·IA 60
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Continue on US 75
30 mi·36 min·US 75
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 29: Sioux City, Council BluffsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork
88 mi·1 hr 34 min
Toward I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
18
Continue on North 16th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·North 16th Street
19
Turn left onto West Broadway
0.6 mi·1 min·West Broadway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on West Broadway
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Broadway
21
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 3-hour-and-18-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the 163.1-mile journey and keep your focus sharp. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, ensure your navigation system is updated before you head out to avoid confusion at intersections. Keep your $25 fuel budget in mind as you plan your stops, and try to refuel in larger towns to maintain consistent pricing. Taking the time to pace yourself will make the transition between US 75, IA 60, and Jackson Avenue much smoother.
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 81.6 miles from George, IA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.1 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 36 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.6 miles or 1h 47m 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 43m
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 George, 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 George, IA
This is one driving day of about 163.1 miles and 3h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from George, 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 US 75 for about 30.1 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 0.1 and 162.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Boiler Avenue
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
11 mi into trip|~17m in|US 18 / 320th Street
Turn right onto US 18 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
7
72.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
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 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
6
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gatewa...
6
162.3 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|West Broadway
Turn left onto West Broadway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.50 one way
$51.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.00
$55.99
premium
$4.89
$31.39
$62.77
diesel
$5.61
$36.01
$72.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.9
0
$17.13
$7.83
Efficient EV
40.8
0
$14.27
$6.52
EV Truck/SUV
65.2
0
$22.83
$10.44
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 16, 2026
Origin
George, IA
Night
in George on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Council Bluffs, IA
Night
in Council Bluffs on Saturday
Local time
9:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°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
20 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
3h 18m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Highways account for only 25 percent of the trip, so you will spend most of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 30.1 miles while on US 75. As you transition between the various roads, the driving environment shifts frequently, keeping the pace active. This is a practical route for those who prefer local roads over the repetitive nature of long-haul highway driving.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.1 mi on US 75.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Boiler Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 18m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Boiler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (US 18 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point; at 72.2 miles: 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.
On the drive from George, IA to Council Bluffs, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sioux Gateway Airport along the way.
Sioux Gateway Airport
72.6 mi in|~1h 37m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 163.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 30.1 miles on US 75. 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: at 0.1 miles (East Boiler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (US 18 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point; at 72.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Council Bluffs, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
