Urbandale, IA to Albia, IA is 73 miles and takes about 1h 39m via IA 5, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for a quick journey. With a short duration and low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing plenty of time for activities at your destination or a leisurely start to your day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.5 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
IA 5
55.2 mi
1h 12m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
8.1 mi
9m
Southwest 63rd Street
2.5 mi
4m
State Highway 28
2.2 mi
3m
73rd Street
1.9 mi
3m
8th Street
0.6 mi
1m
72nd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Grand Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
IA 5
— 55.2 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Albia, IA.
1
Start on Maryland Drive
13 ft·5 sec·Maryland Drive
2
Turn left onto 70th Street
348 ft·9 sec·70th Street
3
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
0.2 mi·1 min·Roseland Drive
4
Turn left onto 72nd Street
0.6 mi·1 min·72nd Street
5
Turn straight onto 73rd Street
1.9 mi·3 min·73rd Street
6
Continue on 8th Street
0.6 mi·1 min·8th Street
7
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·Grand Avenue
8
Turn right onto IA 28
0.4 mi·45 sec·63rd Street;1st Street
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on IA 28
2.5 mi·4 min·Southwest 63rd Street;1st Street
10
Continue on IA 28
2.2 mi·3 min·State Highway 28
11
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto IA 5
8.1 mi·9 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi·22 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
14
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
11 mi·11 min·IA 5; IA 92
15
Take the exit onto IA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
16
Turn right onto IA 5
25 mi·37 min·IA 5
17
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft·9 sec·Benton Avenue East
18
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft·12 sec·South 2nd Street
19
Turn left
31 ft·2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 73-mile distance and under two-hour drive time, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure. Leaving Urbandale, IA anytime in the morning or early afternoon should get you to Albia, IA with plenty of daylight. Since the longest stretch is just over 55 miles, you won't need to worry about extended periods without services, and the $11 fuel estimate suggests you won't need to overthink fuel stops. Keep an eye out for the transition as you move onto IA 5, as this marks the primary highway segment of your trip.
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 36.5 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 16 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.5 miles or 49m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albia, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Urbandale, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Urbandale, IA
This is one driving day of about 73 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Urbandale, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 5 for about 55.2 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 72.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|70th Street
Turn left onto 70th Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Roseland Drive
Turn right onto Roseland Drive
Navigation decision point
6
3.9 mi into trip|~8m in|IA 28 / 63rd Street;1st Street
Turn right onto IA 28 / 63rd Street;1st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
9.5 mi into trip|~17m in|IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge onto IA 5 / Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|South 2nd Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.41 one way
$22.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.53
$25.06
premium
$4.89
$14.05
$28.10
diesel
$5.61
$16.12
$32.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
Efficient EV
18.3
0
$6.39
$2.92
EV Truck/SUV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Urbandale, IA
Night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Albia, IA
Night
in Albia on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Altoona, IA
37 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 39m 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 mostly highway, with 79% of the journey on major roads like IA 5 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. You'll encounter stretches like Southwest 63rd Street, but the bulk of the mileage involves faster travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 55.2 miles on IA 5, offering a consistent pace. Expect a highway-focused feel for most of the 1 hour and 39 minutes, so settling in for steady driving is key.
79% 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: 55.2 mi on IA 5.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 5 and Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 70th Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 39m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Roseland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (IA 28 / 63rd Street;1st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 73 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 55.2 miles on IA 5. 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 (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Roseland Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.9 miles (IA 28 / 63rd Street;1st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albia, IA before heading back.
