If you are planning a trip from Urbandale to Osage, expect a straightforward 150.7-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 56 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it balances efficiency with a manageable travel time. You will spend roughly 90% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing I-35 and US-18. With an estimated fuel cost of $23, it is an economical trip that fits well within a weekend itinerary. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, you can anticipate a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the route offers a reliable path between these two Iowa communities.
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
75.3 miles from Urbandale, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
104.4 mi
1h 52m
US 18
27.1 mi
31m
Lancer Avenue
9.9 mi
17m
I 80
4.6 mi
5m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
South 7th Street
1 mi
1m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 104.4 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Osage, IA.
1
Start on Maryland Drive
13 ft·2 sec·Maryland Drive
2
Turn right onto 70th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·70th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
0.8 mi·1 min·Meredith Drive
4
Turn left onto IA 28
0.5 mi·1 min·Merle Hay Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
6
Merge onto I 80; I 35
4.0 mi·4 min·I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 35; I 80
0.7 mi·50 sec·I 35; I 80
8
Continue on I 80; I 35
0.6 mi·40 sec·I 80; I 35
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
11
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
27 mi·31 min·US 18; IA 27
12
Turn left onto CR T38
9.9 mi·17 min·Lancer Avenue
13
Continue on South 7th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South 7th Street
14
Turn right onto US 218; IA 9
38 ft·1 sec·Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
US 218; IA 9
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 150.7-mile trek, plan for at least one stop to break up the drive. Since the longest stretch is over 100 miles on I-35, timing your break around the transition to US-18 can help you stay refreshed. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential traffic fluctuations and ensure a smooth arrival in Osage. While the $23 fuel budget is relatively modest, it is always wise to keep an eye on your gauge during the longer interstate segments. Given the flexibility of a sub-three-hour trip, you have the advantage of choosing your departure time based on your personal schedule rather than needing to split the drive over multiple days.
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 75.3 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.4 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 33 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.3 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Osage, 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 150.7 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 35 for about 104.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 111.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|Meredith Drive
At end of road, turn right onto Meredith Drive
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north, I-80 east
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east
5
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in|I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
8.1 mi into trip|~12m in|I 35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 35 toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, De...
5
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Cha...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.56 one way
$47.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.87
$51.74
premium
$4.89
$29.00
$58.00
diesel
$5.61
$33.27
$66.55
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.82
$7.23
Efficient EV
37.7
0
$13.19
$6.03
EV Truck/SUV
60.3
0
$21.10
$9.64
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 15, 2026
Origin
Urbandale, IA
Late night
in Urbandale on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Osage, IA
Late night
in Osage on Sunday
Local time
1:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
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
2h 56m 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 highway-focused drive is defined by a significant, 104.4-mile stretch along I-35, which allows you to cover the bulk of the distance with ease. Once you transition off the interstate and onto US-18 and Lancer Avenue, the pace shifts from high-speed transit to local road navigation. Because highways account for 90% of the trip, you should prepare for a consistent, steady driving experience rather than a winding backroads adventure. The transition between these road types breaks up the monotony, keeping the drive engaging until you reach Osage. Expect a functional, no-nonsense commute that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers or complex navigation.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.4 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 18. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near Meredith Drive.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 56m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,222 ft876 ft
Total Climb
515 ft
Total Descent
278 ft
Highest Point
1,222 ft
~107.6 mi in
Elevation Range
346 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Urbandale, IA and Osage, IA, road signs point toward Des Moines and Charles City.
Des Moines
8.1 mi in|~12m|via I 35
Charles City
111.7 mi in|~2h 3m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 150.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 104.4 miles on I 35. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Osage, IA before heading back.
