Origin
Oskaloosa, IA
Late night in Oskaloosa on Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oskaloosa, IA to Urbandale, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
70.3 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oskaloosa, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Urbandale, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Oskaloosa, IA to Urbandale, IA is 70.3 miles and takes about 1h 26m via IA 163, I 80, and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. Expect a highway-focused journey that's efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a short duration and minimal cost, this route is ideal for a quick trip or a segment of a larger Iowa adventure.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 163 | 51.9 mi | 1h |
| I 80 | 8.1 mi | 9m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| A Avenue East | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| 70th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Meredith Drive | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Merle Hay Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Maryland Drive | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
IA 163
— 51.9 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oskaloosa, IA and Urbandale, IA.
1
Start on this road
56 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto IA 92
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
A Avenue East
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
4
Merge onto IA 163
52 mi
·
1 hr
·
IA 163
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
6
Merge onto US 65
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
7
Take the exit
1.2 mi
·
1 min
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
8
Merge onto I 80
8.1 mi
·
9 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.2 miles from Oskaloosa, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 115 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.4 — 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
|
IA 92 / A Avenue East
Turn right onto IA 92 / A Avenue East
Navigation decision point
4
53.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
58.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 84
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs
5
59.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
|
I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
$10.99 one way
$21.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.07 | $24.13 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.53 | $27.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.52 | $31.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.38 | $3.37 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.15 | $2.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.1 | 0 | $9.84 | $4.50 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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 Sunday
Local time
5:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
1h 26m 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 predominantly a highway drive, with 85% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 51.9 miles on IA 163 before transitioning to I 80 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. The character is consistent: efficient travel primarily on interstates and well-maintained state highways. Prepare for a straightforward driving experience focused on covering distance rather than varied scenery.
85% 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: 51.9 mi on IA 163.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 163 and I 80. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 92 / A Avenue East.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 70.3 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 58.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Oskaloosa, IA
Full guide →Oskaloosa is a small city in Mahaska County, Iowa. Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University, a private university, and Lake Keomah State Park which is four miles east of the city.
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 1h 26m. Total distance: 70.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51.9 miles on IA 163. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 53.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 58.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Urbandale, IA before heading back.
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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