Urbandale, IA to Atlantic, IA is 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 32m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward Midwest drive keeps you on major roads for most of the journey, making it a simple and efficient trip. Expect a mostly highway-focused experience, ideal for those who prefer to cover distance quickly. Given the short duration, this route is perfectly suited for a same-day excursion, allowing you to easily fit it into a busy schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
61.6 mi
1h 6m
650th Street
6.5 mi
9m
East 7th Street
3.5 mi
6m
John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
73rd Street
1.6 mi
2m
72nd Street
0.6 mi
1m
US 6
0.4 mi
<1m
Roseland Drive
0.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Atlantic, 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
1.6 mi·2 min·73rd Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I-235 west
7
Merge onto I 235
3.3 mi·4 min·John MacVicar Freeway
8
Merge onto I 80
62 mi·1 hr 6 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
10
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi·9 min·650th Street
11
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
3.5 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
266 ft·6 sec·Chestnut Street
13
Turn right
227 ft·16 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive of just over an hour and a half, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time at your destination or leave mid-afternoon to arrive in Atlantic before sunset. Since the longest stretch on I 80 is 61.6 miles, you won't need frequent fuel stops, but it’s always wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially as you get closer to Atlantic. A good tip for this specific route is to be aware of the transition from the interstate to local roads around the 78-mile mark; this is where you'll need to pay closer attention to signage.
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 39.1 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 45m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlantic, 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 78.2 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Urbandale, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 61.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.8 — 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
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|72nd Street
Turn left onto 72nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
6.2 mi into trip|~10m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
67.8 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.23 one way
$24.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.42
$26.85
premium
$4.89
$15.05
$30.10
diesel
$5.61
$17.27
$34.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.84
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Atlantic, IA
Night
in Atlantic on Saturday
Local time
11:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
3 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 32m 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 route is predominantly a highway drive, with 83% of the journey on major roads like I 80. You'll experience a significant stretch of 61.6 miles on I 80, offering a consistent pace. While the majority is highway, you'll transition to local roads like 650th Street and East 7th Street as you approach your destination. This mix means you can maintain speed on the interstate before navigating more localized streets for the final approach.
83% 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: 61.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and 650th Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 70th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 32m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.3 miles (72nd Street): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Urbandale, IA to Atlantic, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Audubon along the way.
Audubon
67.8 mi in|~1h 16m|via US 6
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 78.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on I 80. 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 0.3 miles (72nd Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Atlantic, IA before heading back.
