Origin
Glenwood, IA
Late night in Glenwood on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Glenwood, IA to Council Bluffs, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
28m
Distance
20.6 mi
33 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 26m
★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 30m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Glenwood, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Council Bluffs, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Glenwood to Council Bluffs, Iowa, you are looking at a quick, 20.8-mile journey that typically takes about 25 minutes. This Midwest route is ideal for a one-day trip, as it requires no overnight stops and remains entirely local. You will navigate primarily via North Vine Street, Sharp Street, and Hilman Road rather than hopping on a major interstate. With fuel costs estimated at just $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly way to move between these two Iowa towns. Because this is a direct, turn-heavy local drive, you should plan for a straightforward trip without the need for extended breaks. It is a practical, no-fuss connection that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 275 | 14.1 mi | 16m |
| US 34 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Expressway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Hilman Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Sharp Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| West Broadway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South 8th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 275
— 14.1 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Glenwood, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on this road
205 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Vine Street
139 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Vine Street
3
Turn right onto CR H30
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sharp Street
4
Continue on Hilman Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Hilman Road
5
Turn right onto US 34; US 275
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 34; US 275
6
Take the ramp onto US 275
14 mi
·
16 min
·
US 275
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 49
Toward Downtown
8
Turn left onto South Expressway
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Expressway
9
Continue on South 6th Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
South 6th Street
10
Turn left onto Willow Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Willow Avenue
11
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South 8th Street
12
Turn left onto West Broadway
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Broadway
13
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Vine Street
Turn right onto North Vine Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR H30 / Sharp Street
Turn right onto CR H30 / Sharp Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 34; US 275
Turn right onto US 34; US 275
Navigation decision point
5
17.9 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 49
Toward Downtown
6
20.2 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
South 8th Street
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.22 one way
$6.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.54 | $7.07 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.96 | $7.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.55 | $9.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.2 | 0 | $2.16 | $0.99 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.80 | $0.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Council Bluffs, IA
Late night in Council Bluffs on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SSW 18 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
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
13 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
28m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a standard highway cruise, as this 20.8-mile path features zero percent highway travel. You will be navigating a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because the route relies on local roads, there is no long-distance cruising; in fact, the longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on North Vine Street. This creates a stop-and-go environment that feels more like navigating neighborhood connectors than open road driving. Prepare for a technical drive where the road changes frequently as you transition between North Vine, Sharp, and Hilman.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.1 mi on US 275.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 275 and US 34. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Vine Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 28m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Vine Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CR H30 / Sharp Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 34; US 275): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,199 ft
965 ft
Total Climb
214 ft
Total Descent
242 ft
Highest Point
1,199 ft
~1.5 mi in
Elevation Range
233 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Glenwood, IA to Council Bluffs, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Downtown along the way.
Downtown
17.9 mi in
|
~22m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 28m. Total distance: 20.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14.1 miles on US 275. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Vine Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CR H30 / Sharp Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (US 34; US 275): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Council Bluffs, IA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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