Embarking on a journey from Manly, Iowa, to Council Bluffs, Iowa, covers 257.5 miles and will take approximately 4 hours and 46 minutes of driving time. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Midwest locations. You'll primarily navigate using Avenue of the Saints, I-35, and I-80, offering a mix of highway experiences. With an estimated fuel cost of around $40, it's a budget-friendly option for a solo drive or a quick getaway. The drive provides a straightforward passage through the heart of Iowa, ideal for those seeking a direct connection.
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
128.8 miles from Manly, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
115.8 mi
2h 4m
I 80
114.6 mi
2h 3m
I 35
14.3 mi
16m
State Highway 9
7.1 mi
9m
East Kanesville Boulevard
3.7 mi
6m
East South Street
0.5 mi
1m
West Broadway
0.4 mi
<1m
North Broadway Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 115.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 62 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,730 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,152
Quietest
2 AM
~135 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Manly, IA and Council Bluffs, IA.
1
Start on this road
264 ft·21 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
0.2 mi·55 sec·North Broadway Street
3
Turn right onto IA 9
0.5 mi·1 min·East South Street
4
Continue on IA 9
7.1 mi·9 min·State Highway 9
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
6
Merge onto I 35; IA 27
116 mi·2 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
14 mi·16 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, DavenportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
19 mi·20 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland
11
Turn straight onto IA 906
2.8 mi·4 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
12
Continue on IA 906
0.1 mi·20 sec·East Broadway
13
Continue on IA 906
0.9 mi·2 min·East Kanesville Boulevard
14
Continue on West Broadway
0.4 mi·50 sec·West Broadway
15
Arrive at destination
West Broadway
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 46-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Manly to maximize your daylight and arrive in Council Bluffs with ample time. While the total duration suggests a single-day trip is feasible, planning for one stop along the way can break up the 257.5 miles nicely. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 115.8-mile stretch on Avenue of the Saints, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. The $40 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always factor in potential price fluctuations.
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 128.8 miles from Manly, IA, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.8 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 57 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.8 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
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 Manly, 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 Manly, IA
This is one driving day of about 257.5 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Manly, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 115.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 233.9 — 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|North Broadway Street
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
5
8.3 mi into trip|~13m in|I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
124.1 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
7
138.4 mi into trip|~2h 34m 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
233.9 mi into trip|~4h 17m 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
$38.03 one way
$76.05 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.98
$83.96
premium
$4.72
$47.81
$95.62
diesel
$4.80
$48.62
$97.24
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.3
0
$27.04
$12.36
Efficient EV
64.4
0
$22.53
$10.30
EV Truck/SUV
103
1
$36.05
$16.48
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 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 19, 2026
Origin
Manly, IA
Evening
in Manly on Monday
Local time
7:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Patchy Smoke
SE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:08PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Council Bluffs, IA
Evening
in Council Bluffs on Monday
Local time
7:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers
ESE 6 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:08PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
8 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
4h 46m 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 presents a mixed profile, with 53% of the journey on highways. Expect to spend a significant portion of your time on the Avenue of the Saints, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch at 115.8 miles. While much of the route involves comfortable highway driving, the transition between major interstates and other roads will keep things dynamic. The character of the drive shifts as you progress, offering a varied experience behind the wheel without being overly demanding. It's a route that balances efficiency with moments of open road.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.8 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Broadway Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 257.5 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,359 ft813 ft
Total Climb
632 ft
Total Descent
844 ft
Highest Point
1,359 ft
~184 mi in
Elevation Range
546 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manly, IA and Council Bluffs, IA, road signs point toward Davenport 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 4h 46m. Total distance: 257.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.3 miles (I 35; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 124.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Council Bluffs, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
