Orange City, IA to Urbandale, IA is 238.5 miles and takes about 4h 30m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. With 65% of the route on highways, expect a relatively straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. It's a single-day drive, making it a good option for a quick transition between locations without needing an overnight stop.
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
119.3 miles from Orange City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
94.9 mi
1h 41m
US 75
30.1 mi
36m
I 880
16 mi
17m
IA 60
10.4 mi
12m
County Road K64
3.7 mi
5m
John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
73rd Street
1.9 mi
3m
Albany Avenue
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.9 mi, about 1h 41m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,583 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,923
Quietest
2 AM
~131 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 94 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 Orange City, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northwest
430 ft·25 sec·2nd Street Northwest
2
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
1.2 mi·3 min·Albany Avenue
3
Continue on Albany Place
0.5 mi·54 sec·Albany Place
4
Continue on County Road K64
3.7 mi·5 min·County Road K64
5
Turn right onto IA 60
10 mi·12 min·IA 60
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on US 75
30 mi·36 min·US 75
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 29: Sioux City, Council BluffsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
73 mi·1 hr 19 min
Toward I 29 South: Council Bluffs, Sioux Gateway Airport
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 71Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
10
Continue on I 880
16 mi·17 min·I 880
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·43 sec
Exit 16AToward I 80 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235
3.3 mi·4 min·John MacVicar Freeway
Exit 123AToward I 235 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 3Toward Windsor Heights, West Des MoinesUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn sharp left onto 73rd Street
1.9 mi·3 min·73rd Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Continue on 72nd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·72nd Street
17
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi·1 min·Roseland Drive
18
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft·10 sec·70th Street
19
Turn right onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 4.5-hour drive time, leaving Orange City in the morning should allow you to reach Urbandale by midday. The recommended stop count is one, so plan a brief break to refuel or stretch your legs. The longest stretch without a town is nearly 95 miles on I 80, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before entering that segment. With the total cost estimated around $38 for fuel, it's an economical trip to plan for.
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 119.3 miles from Orange City, IA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.9 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 52 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.3 miles or 2h 17m 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 40m
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 Orange City, 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 Orange City, IA
This is one driving day of about 238.5 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Orange City, 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 94.9 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 46 and 235.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
46 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward I 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
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 29: Sioux City, Council Bluffs
8
136.3 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
8
231.9 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway toward I 235 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123A
Toward I 235 East: Des Moines
8
235.3 mi into trip|~4h 23m in
Take the exit toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3
Toward Windsor Heights, West Des Moines
7
235.8 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|73rd Street
Turn sharp left onto 73rd Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.78 one way
$79.57 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$43.24
$86.48
premium
$5.26
$49.38
$98.76
diesel
$6.18
$58.02
$116.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.6
0
$25.04
$11.45
Efficient EV
59.6
0
$20.87
$9.54
EV Truck/SUV
95.4
1
$33.39
$15.26
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Orange City, IA
Morning
in Orange City on Sunday
Local time
7:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Sunny
S 10 to 20 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Morning
in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
7:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
S 2 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 30m 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 route is mostly highway, with 65% of the 238.5 miles on high-speed roads like I 80. You'll experience a stretch of 94.9 miles on I 80, which is the longest continuous highway segment. Expect to transition from highway to surface roads for portions of the drive, particularly as you approach your destination in Urbandale.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 75. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 238.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 231.9 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,440 ft911 ft
Total Climb
460 ft
Total Descent
957 ft
Highest Point
1,440 ft
Elevation Range
529 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Orange City, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Sioux Gateway Airport.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 238.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.9 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Urbandale, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 46 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 136.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 231.9 miles (I 235 / John MacVicar Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Urbandale, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
