Traveling from Osage to Urbandale is a straightforward 151.2-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes. Since it is a quick trek across the Iowa Midwest, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-35 and the Avenue of the Saints, making for a very efficient transit. Budgeting approximately $23 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire trip. Overall, this is a practical, highway-focused route that favors speed and connectivity over winding scenic detours, perfect for those looking to reach their destination with minimal fuss.
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
75.6 miles from Osage, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
109 mi
1h 58m
Avenue of the Saints
27 mi
31m
Lancer Avenue
9.9 mi
17m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
South 7th Street
1 mi
1m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 109 mi, about 1h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Osage, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on US 218; IA 9
38 ft·8 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto South 7th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South 7th Street
3
Continue on Lancer Avenue
9.9 mi·17 min·Lancer Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 18; IA 27
27 mi·31 min·Avenue of the Saints
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
6
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·32 sec·this road
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
7
Merge onto I 35
103 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
6.4 mi·7 min·I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 131Toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville LakeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn left onto IA 28
0.6 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
11
Turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
12
Turn left onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
13
Turn left onto Maryland Drive
13 ft·0 sec·Maryland Drive
14
Arrive at destination
Maryland Drive
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop will help break up the nearly three-hour duration. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early in the trip, as your $23 budget is based on steady highway consumption. Since you are spending most of your time on I-35, stay alert for changing traffic patterns as you approach the Urbandale area. If you prefer a relaxed pace, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure your drive remains smooth and stress-free. Use your single planned stop to stretch your legs, as the long, straight stretches can be fatiguing despite the manageable total mileage.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.6 miles from Osage, IA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 33 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 31m 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 23m
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 Osage, 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 Osage, IA
This is one driving day of about 151.2 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Osage, 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 35 for about 109 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 148.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
10.9 mi into trip|~19m in|US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Turn right onto US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Navigation decision point
4
37.9 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the exit toward I 35 South: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
5
39.2 mi into trip|~52m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
141.9 mi into trip|~2h 43m 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...
8
148.3 mi into trip|~2h 50m 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
$23.64 one way
$47.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.95
$51.91
premium
$4.89
$29.10
$58.19
diesel
$5.61
$33.38
$66.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.88
$7.26
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.23
$6.05
EV Truck/SUV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 15, 2026
Origin
Osage, IA
Late night
in Osage on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Urbandale, IA
Late night
in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
18 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
2h 56m 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?
Expect a drive defined by efficiency, as 72% of your journey consists of highway travel. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, especially during the longest uninterrupted stretch of 109 miles spent cruising along I-35. While the path includes segments on Lancer Avenue and the Avenue of the Saints, the personality of the road remains consistently fast-paced and geared toward interstate transit. You won't find many technical turns here; instead, the route offers a steady, predictable flow that allows you to cover the distance effectively. It is a classic Midwestern highway drive that prioritizes steady progress over complex navigation.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and Avenue of the Saints. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 10.9 miles in near US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 56m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles (US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 39.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,227 ft880 ft
Total Climb
179 ft
Total Descent
416 ft
Highest Point
1,227 ft
~43.2 mi in
Elevation Range
347 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Osage, IA and Urbandale, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs and Davenport.
Council Bluffs
141.9 mi in|~2h 43m|via I 35
Davenport
141.9 mi in|~2h 43m|via I 35
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 151.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 109 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 10.9 miles (US 18; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Navigation decision point; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 39.2 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Urbandale, IA before heading back.
