Origin
Muscatine, IA
Late night in Muscatine on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Muscatine, IA to Urbandale, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 1m
Distance
157.3 mi
253 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 50m
★
6 AM
3h 1m
8 AM
3h 24m
10 AM
3h 9m
12 PM
3h 7m
3 PM
3h 10m
5 PM
3h 23m
8 PM
2h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muscatine, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Muscatine, IA to Urbandale, IA is 157.3 miles and takes about 3h 1m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Iowa, connecting two points in the same state. Most of the drive is on the interstate, making for a straightforward and efficient transit. It's a short enough trip to complete in a single day, with minimal fuss and a predictable fuel cost.
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
78.7 miles from Muscatine, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 138.9 mi | 2h 30m |
| State Highway 38 | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| US 6 | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| Park Avenue | 2 mi | 4m |
| 70th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Meredith Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East 2nd Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Merle Hay Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 138.9 mi, about 2h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muscatine, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
157 ft
·
10 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
360 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 3rd Street
3
Turn right onto Mulberry Avenue
330 ft
·
9 sec
·
Mulberry Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business
193 ft
·
3 sec
·
East 2nd Street
5
Continue on US 61 Business
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East 2nd Street
6
Continue on US 61 Business; IA 38; IA 92
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Park Avenue
7
Continue on IA 38
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 38
8
Continue on US 6
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
US 6
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
139 mi
·
2 hr 30 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 131
Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Merle Hay Road
13
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Meredith Drive
14
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
70th Street
15
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Maryland Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, you can easily complete this drive in a single day, allowing for a flexible departure time. Starting in the morning will give you plenty of daylight. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting you might not need many breaks. The longest stretch is 138.9 miles on I 80, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, especially considering the estimated $25 fuel cost. Keep an eye out for the transition from I 80 to other state and US highways as you approach Urbandale.
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 78.7 miles from Muscatine, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.9 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.7 miles or 1h 32m 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 27m
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 Muscatine, 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 Muscatine, IA
This is one driving day of about 157.3 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Muscatine, 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 I 80 for about 138.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 78.7 miles from Muscatine, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.9 miles.
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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 154.4 — 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
|
East 3rd Street
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Mulberry Avenue
Turn right onto Mulberry Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 61 Business / East 2nd Street
Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business / East 2nd Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
15.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
154.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m 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
$24.59 one way
$49.18 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $27.00 | $54.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $30.27 | $60.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.73 | $69.46 |
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: 55 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 | 47.2 | 0 | $16.52 | $7.55 |
| Efficient EV | 39.3 | 0 | $13.76 | $6.29 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.9 | 0 | $22.02 | $10.07 |
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.
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Late night in Urbandale on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°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
3 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 1m 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 heavily highway-focused, with 96% of the drive on major roads like I 80 and US 6. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on I 80, which accounts for the longest continuous stretch at 138.9 miles. Expect to encounter a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits along this interstate segment. The transition to State Highway 38 and US 6 marks the end of the interstate portion, introducing more local road characteristics.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 38. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East 3rd Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Muscatine, IA to Urbandale, IA is easy. At 3h 1m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Mulberry Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 61 Business / East 2nd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
About the Cities
Starting in Muscatine, IA
Full guide →Founded 1839
Muscatine is a city sitting alongside the Mississippi River in Eastern Iowa.
Top landmarks
- • Downtown Commercial Historic District — historic district in Muscatine, Iowa
- • West Hill Historic District — historic district in Muscatine, Iowa
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 1m. Total distance: 157.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138.9 miles on I 80. 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 (East 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Mulberry Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 61 Business / East 2nd Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Urbandale, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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