Traveling from Urbandale to Carter Lake is a straightforward 134.2-mile journey across the Iowa landscape. Expect a travel time of approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the interstate, as 96% of the route consists of highway driving. With fuel costs estimated at around $20, it is a budget-friendly transit between these two Midwest locations. Because the duration is relatively short, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless your schedule requires it. This route is designed for efficiency, allowing you to reach your 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
67.1 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
118.5 mi
2h 7m
John MacVicar Freeway
3.3 mi
4m
I 80 Local
2.9 mi
3m
I 29
2 mi
2m
US 6
1.7 mi
2m
73rd Street
1.6 mi
2m
North 11th Street
1.1 mi
2m
East Locust Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 118.5 mi, about 2h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Carter Lake, 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
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
24 mi·25 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Local; US 6
2.9 mi·3 min·I 80 Local; US 6
Exit 4BToward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council BluffsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 29; US 6
2.0 mi·2 min·I 29; US 6
Toward I 29 North: Sioux CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit onto US 6
1.7 mi·2 min·US 6
Toward I 480 West, US 6 West
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 3Toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
14
Turn right onto North 14th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 14th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Izard Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·Izard Street
16
Continue on North 11th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·North 11th Street
17
Turn right onto East Locust Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East Locust Street
18
Turn left onto North 9th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 9th Street
19
Arrive at destination
North 9th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop during the journey to break up the 118.5-mile stretch on I-80 and keep your focus sharp. Given that 96% of the route is highway, check local traffic reports before you leave Urbandale to ensure smooth sailing on the John MacVicar Freeway. Budgeting $20 for fuel should cover you easily, but it is always wise to keep an eye on your gauge before hitting the interstate sections. If you find yourself needing a break, look for services near the midpoint to maximize your efficiency and arrive in Carter Lake refreshed.
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 67.1 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.5 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.1 miles or 1h 15m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carter Lake, 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.
+
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 Urbandale, IA
This is one driving day of about 134.2 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Urbandale, 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 80 for about 118.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 131.2 — 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
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.
6
101 mi into trip|~1h 51m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...
9
124.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 80 Local; US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 Local; US 6 toward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Bluffs
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 4B
Toward I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Blu...
6
131.2 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creigh...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.98 one way
$41.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.04
$46.07
premium
$4.89
$25.83
$51.65
diesel
$5.61
$29.63
$59.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.3
0
$14.09
$6.44
Efficient EV
33.6
0
$11.74
$5.37
EV Truck/SUV
53.7
0
$18.79
$8.59
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 13, 2026
Origin
Urbandale, IA
Night
in Urbandale on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
SSW 7 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Carter Lake, IA
Night
in Carter Lake on Saturday
Local time
9:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Partly Cloudy
S 8 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
50°F
Avoca, IA
67 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
2h 34m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 is a quintessential highway-focused drive dominated by I-80, the John MacVicar Freeway, and I-80 Local. You will spend the bulk of your time behind the wheel on a single, long stretch of 118.5 miles on I-80, which defines the rhythm of the trip. Because the road is almost entirely interstate, you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace rather than a winding or technical experience. While the drive is efficient and fast, the repetitive nature of highway travel means you will want to stay alert. The transition between these roads is seamless, keeping you on major thoroughfares for the duration of the 2-hour and 34-minute drive.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and John MacVicar Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 70th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 134.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 101 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,430 ft944 ft
Total Climb
517 ft
Total Descent
481 ft
Highest Point
1,430 ft
~57.5 mi in
Elevation Range
486 ft
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 Carter Lake, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Omaha Nebraska along the way.
Omaha Nebraska
101 mi in|~1h 51m|via I 80
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 134.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.5 miles on I 80. 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 Carter Lake, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.2 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 101 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carter Lake, IA before heading back.
