Origin
Jefferson, IA
Late night in Jefferson on Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Jefferson, IA to Urbandale, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
57.1 mi
92 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Jefferson, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Jefferson, IA to Urbandale, IA is 57.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, for its entirety. Expect a route characterized by frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. Given the relatively short distance and duration, it's an ideal same-day excursion for anyone looking for a straightforward drive. Plan for a comfortable journey with minimal time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| George P. Soumas Memorial Highway | 17.7 mi | 24m |
| Northwest Granger Drive | 16.5 mi | 19m |
| Neola Avenue | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Meredith Drive | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Northwest 114th Street | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Elm Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 4 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
— 17.7 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jefferson, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on West Lincolnway Street
22 ft
·
4 sec
·
West Lincolnway Street
2
Turn right onto IA 4
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
South Elm Street
3
Continue on IA 4
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
N Avenue
4
Continue on South Elm Street
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
South Elm Street
5
Continue on IA 4
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Neola Avenue
6
Continue on IA 4
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 4
7
At end of road, turn left onto IA 4; IA 141
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 141
17 mi
·
23 min
·
George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
9
Continue on IA 141
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Northwest Granger Drive
10
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Northwest 114th Street
11
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
12
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
13
Continue on IA 141
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on IA 141
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
15
Turn left onto Meredith Drive
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Meredith Drive
16
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
17
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Maryland Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Jefferson, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 4 / South Elm Street
Turn right onto IA 4 / South Elm Street
Navigation decision point
4
12 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
At end of road, turn left onto IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
Navigation decision point
4
12.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
55.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
70th Street
Turn right onto 70th Street
Navigation decision point
4
57.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
Maryland Drive
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.93 one way
$17.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.80 | $19.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.99 | $21.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.61 | $25.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $6.00 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.99 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Urbandale, IA
Late night in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
2:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Madrid, IA
29 mi in
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
22 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
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of local roads and highways. With a highway share of just 2, it’s not about high-speed cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.7 miles on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your steering and speed. The road character will likely shift between more rural and suburban settings as you progress toward Urbandale. Keep your attention focused as you make your way through these local thoroughfares.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.7 mi on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near IA 4 / South Elm 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 1h 18m drive. You will face about 5 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 (IA 4 / South Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 57.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on George P. Soumas Memorial Highway. 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 (IA 4 / South Elm Street): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (IA 4; IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Navigation decision point; at 12.4 miles (IA 141 / George P. Soumas Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Urbandale, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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