Oelwein to Indiana, IA is 185 miles and takes about 3h 50m via I 80 and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, crossing the Midwest region. You'll primarily use major highways, making for straightforward travel. Given the short duration and manageable distance, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
92.6 miles from Oelwein, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
73.8 mi
1h 19m
Avenue of the Saints
42.6 mi
47m
State Highway 14
23.5 mi
34m
Jamestown Avenue
14.7 mi
20m
IA 5
7.5 mi
11m
Jackson Avenue
6.5 mi
9m
31st Avenue
3.8 mi
5m
North Lincoln Street
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 73.8 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oelwein, IA and Indiana, IA.
1
Start on South Frederick Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·South Frederick Avenue
2
Turn left onto 10th Street Southeast
0.2 mi·24 sec·10th Street Southeast
3
Turn right onto IA 150
0.5 mi·45 sec·Rock Island Road
4
Continue on Palace Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Palace Road
5
Continue on IA 150
1.5 mi·2 min·Jackson Avenue
6
Continue on IA 150
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street North
7
Continue on IA 150
5.0 mi·7 min·Jackson Avenue
8
Continue on IA 150
4.3 mi·6 min·Jamestown Avenue
9
Continue on IA 150
1.0 mi·1 min·5th Avenue Northeast
10
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22
0.1 mi·18 sec·1st Street East
11
Turn left onto IA 150
1.4 mi·2 min·3rd Avenue Southeast
12
Continue on Jamestown Avenue
10 mi·14 min·Jamestown Avenue
13
Continue on IA 150
3.8 mi·5 min·31st Avenue
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
15
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
43 mi·47 min·Avenue of the Saints
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
18
Merge onto I 80
74 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 80
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
20
Turn left onto State Highway 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
21
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Monroe Street
22
Continue on IA 14
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
23
Continue on IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·North Lincoln Street
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
25
Merge onto IA 5; IA 92
1.2 mi·1 min·IA 5; IA 92
26
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
27
Turn right onto IA 5
5.8 mi·8 min·IA 5
28
Turn sharp right onto CR G76
0.2 mi·24 sec·County Highway G76
29
Continue on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
30
Arrive at destination
CR G76
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight. With a 3h 50m drive time, you won't need to split the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $29, but it's always wise to fill up before embarking. There's one recommended stop, which should be sufficient for a break on this relatively short drive.
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 92.6 miles from Oelwein, IA, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.8 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 41 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.6 miles or 1h 54m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Indiana, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oelwein, 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 Oelwein, IA
This is one driving day of about 185.1 miles and 3h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Oelwein, 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 73.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 183.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|10th Street Southeast
Turn left onto 10th Street Southeast
Navigation decision point
4
14.8 mi into trip|~22m in|IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Turn right onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
5
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
5
148.1 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
5
183.1 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|CR G76 / County Highway G76
Turn sharp right onto CR G76 / County Highway G76
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.94 one way
$57.88 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.77
$63.55
premium
$4.89
$35.62
$71.24
diesel
$5.61
$40.87
$81.74
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.5
0
$19.44
$8.88
Efficient EV
46.3
0
$16.20
$7.40
EV Truck/SUV
74
0
$25.91
$11.85
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Oelwein, IA
Morning
in Oelwein on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Indiana, IA
Morning
in Indiana on Tuesday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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 50m 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 is 57% highway, with a significant 73.8-mile stretch on I 80. Expect to transition from faster interstate cruising to Avenue of the Saints and State Highway 14. You'll notice the change from continuous highway travel to more surface road driving as you approach your destination.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near 10th Street Southeast.
Driving Effort5/10
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 185.1 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 0.6 miles (10th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 14.8 miles (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 73.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Oelwein, IA to Indiana, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 185.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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.
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: at 0.6 miles (10th Street Southeast): Navigation decision point; at 14.8 miles (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 73.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Indiana, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
