Monticello, IA to Urbandale, IA is 157 miles and takes about 3h 10m via Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, making it a convenient journey between two points in Iowa. The drive offers a mixed experience, suggesting you'll encounter various road types rather than a single, uniform highway. With a recommended single day for travel, this route is ideal for a straightforward drive without the need for overnight stays. Consider this a practical option for connecting these two Iowa locations efficiently.
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
78.5 miles from Monticello, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi
39m
US 151 Business
25.3 mi
29m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
IA 100
15.2 mi
18m
US 65
10.6 mi
12m
16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
2m
South Main Street
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37.3 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on North Maple Street
73 ft·8 sec·North Maple Street
2
Turn left onto IA 38
0.2 mi·16 sec·East 1st Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 151 Business; IA 38
1.9 mi·3 min·South Main Street
4
Continue on US 151 Business
0.2 mi·26 sec·Amber Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 151 Business
25 mi·29 min·US 151 Business
6
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
7
Turn right onto IA 100
15 mi·18 min·IA 100
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
9
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
10
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
11
Continue on US 30
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
13
Turn left onto IA 330
34 mi·39 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
14
Continue on US 65; IA 330
0.7 mi·58 sec·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
15
Take the exit onto US 65
11 mi·12 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
18
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
19
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
20
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
21
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Given this is a 1-day trip covering 157 miles, you have plenty of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow ample daylight for the approximately 3-hour drive, plus time for a stop. You'll want to budget for around $25 in fuel costs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 37.3-mile stretch on the Lincoln Highway, as services might be less frequent there. A single stop should be sufficient for this drive, so plan it strategically for a break and to refuel 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 78.5 miles from Monticello, IA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.3 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 35 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.5 miles or 1h 34m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Urbandale, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Monticello, 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 Monticello, IA
This is one driving day of about 157 miles and 3h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Monticello, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37.3 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 154.1 — 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|IA 38 / East 1st Street
Turn left onto IA 38 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
44 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
7
143.5 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
8
154.1 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
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.
Exit 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.55 one way
$49.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.95
$53.90
premium
$4.89
$30.21
$60.43
diesel
$5.61
$34.66
$69.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.1
0
$16.49
$7.54
Efficient EV
39.3
0
$13.74
$6.28
EV Truck/SUV
62.8
0
$21.98
$10.05
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Monticello, IA
Night
in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
79 mi in
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
5 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
3h 10m 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?
This drive features a 33% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster travel and more local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 37.3 miles on the Lincoln Highway, offering a good segment of consistent driving. As you progress, expect the road's character to change, moving from potentially more historic highways like the Lincoln Highway to other main roads and business routes. This variation keeps the drive interesting, moving you through different Iowa landscapes and community types.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.3 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 38 / East 1st Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 10m drive. You will face about 13 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 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Monticello, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.
Marshalltown
44 mi in|~54m
Des Moines
108.8 mi in|~2h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 157 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 37.3 miles on Lincoln Highway. 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: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Urbandale, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
