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Trip from Roland, IA to Indiana, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 52m

Distance

92.1 mi

148 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 44m ★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Roland, IA, IA

Roland, IA

TStudio

Downtown Indiana, IA, IA

Indiana, IA

Kelly

Trip Overview

This 92.1-mile drive from Roland, Iowa, to Indiana, Iowa, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 52 minutes. With an estimated fuel cost of $14, it's an economical option for a day trip within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes IA 5 and I 35, with a significant portion on the Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. Given its short duration and focused highway profile, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times without the need for an overnight stop. It offers a practical way to travel between two points in Iowa.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

46 miles from Roland, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IA 5 35.4 mi 42m
I 35 35.2 mi 38m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway 10.7 mi 12m
130th Street 3.1 mi 5m
I 80 2.6 mi 2m
County Highway G76 2 mi 3m
East Maple Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: IA 5 — 35.4 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Roland, IA and Indiana, IA.

1

Start on CR E18

0.5 mi · 53 sec · East Maple Street
2

Continue on CR E18

3.1 mi · 5 min · 130th Street
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward I-35 south: Des Moines
4

Merge onto I 35

35 mi · 38 min · I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight right at fork onto I 35

0.2 mi · 12 sec · I 35
Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport
6

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 2 min
Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport
7

Merge onto I 80

2.6 mi · 2 min · I 80
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 141 Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto US 65

11 mi · 12 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
11

Continue on IA 5

19 mi · 21 min · IA 5
12

Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92

11 mi · 11 min · IA 5; IA 92
13

Take the exit onto IA 5

0.5 mi · 1 min · IA 5
14

Turn right onto IA 5

5.8 mi · 8 min · IA 5
15

Turn sharp right onto CR G76

0.2 mi · 24 sec · County Highway G76
16

Continue on CR G76

1.9 mi · 3 min · County Highway G76
17

Arrive at destination

CR G76

Trip Plan

With a total drive time of just under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility for this trip. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day, or depart later to avoid any potential rush hour traffic on I 35. Since there are no specific stops recommended, you can easily break up the 92.1 miles as needed, perhaps for a quick stretch or to refuel if your tank is low. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $14, and it’s always wise to have a little buffer. A useful tip for this particular route: be aware of the transition points between IA 5 and I 35 to ensure you stay on track for your destination in Indiana, Iowa.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46 miles from Roland, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.4 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 20 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 46 miles or 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 29m

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 Roland, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Roland, IA

This is one driving day of about 92.1 miles and 1h 52m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Roland, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 35.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Altoona, IA

46 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.

Popular next leg

Altoona, IA to Indiana, IA

49.3 mi · 1h 3m

Pacing Suggestions

Ames, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Altoona, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 46 miles from Roland, 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 4 and 43.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 35

Merge onto I 35

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
39.1 mi into trip | ~45m 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...
5
39.2 mi into trip | ~45m in

Take the exit toward I 80 East: Davenport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
42.6 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the exit toward US 65 South: Altoona, 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 141 Toward US 65 South: Altoona, Des Moines
5
43.3 mi into trip | ~52m in | US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

Merge onto US 65 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.40 one way

$28.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.81 $31.62
premium $4.89 $17.72 $35.45
diesel $5.61 $20.33 $40.67

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.6 0 $9.67 $4.42
Efficient EV 23 0 $8.06 $3.68
EV Truck/SUV 36.8 0 $12.89 $5.89

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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

Roland, IA

Late night in Roland on Tuesday

Local time

5:42 AM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Indiana, IA

Late night in Indiana on Tuesday

Local time

5:42 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

60°F

Altoona, IA

46 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

18 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

1h 52m 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?

Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 92.1-mile trip, with 80% of the route utilizing major highways like IA 5 and I 35. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 35.4 miles on IA 5, offering a consistent pace. The Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway designation suggests a well-maintained and direct path for the majority of your journey. This isn't a winding scenic byway, but rather an efficient connection between destinations, prioritizing straightforward travel over varied landscapes.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.4 mi on IA 5.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and I 35. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4 miles in near I 35.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.1 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: at 4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Roland, IA and Indiana, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport and Des Moines.

Council Bluffs

39.1 mi in | ~45m | via I 35

Davenport

39.1 mi in | ~45m | via I 35

Des Moines

42.6 mi in | ~50m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 92.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.4 miles on IA 5. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Indiana, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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: at 4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 39.1 miles (I 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 39.2 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 Indiana, 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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