Urbandale, IA to Webster City, IA is 78.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 31 minutes via I-35 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, straightforward trip through the Midwest, staying within Iowa for its entirety. Expect a predominantly highway experience, making it an efficient option for connecting these two locations. Given its brevity, it's an ideal same-day excursion for business or leisure.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.3 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 35
56.9 mi
1h 1m
US 20
12.3 mi
14m
I 80
4.6 mi
5m
Superior Street
1.3 mi
2m
70th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Meredith Drive
0.8 mi
1m
Merle Hay Road
0.5 mi
1m
2nd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 56.9 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Urbandale, IA and Webster City, 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
56 mi·1 hr 1 min·I 35
Toward I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
11
Merge onto US 20
12 mi·14 min·US 20
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward IA 17 South
13
Turn right onto Superior Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Superior Street
14
Turn left onto CR D20
60 ft·1 sec·2nd Street
15
Arrive at destination
CR D20
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Urbandale in the morning or early afternoon should allow ample daylight to reach Webster City. With a low estimated fuel cost of $12, you likely won't need to worry about finding fuel, but it's always wise to top off before you leave. The longest stretch on I-35 is over 50 miles, so plan for a brief stop before that if you prefer not to drive that far without a break.
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 39.3 miles from Urbandale, IA, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.9 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 39.3 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Webster City, 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 78.5 miles and 1h 31m.
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 35 for about 56.9 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 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|70th Street
Turn right onto 70th Street
Navigation decision point
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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.27 one way
$24.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.47
$26.95
premium
$4.89
$15.11
$30.21
diesel
$5.61
$17.33
$34.66
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: 27.5 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
23.6
0
$8.24
$3.77
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.87
$3.14
EV Truck/SUV
31.4
0
$10.99
$5.02
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
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Webster City, IA
Night
in Webster City on Saturday
Local time
11:25 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
4 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 31m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 94% of this trip, covering a total of 78.5 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 56.9 miles, primarily on I-35. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the drive. Expect a steady cruising experience with many exits along the interstate segments.
94% 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: 56.9 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 35 and US 20. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 70th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.5 miles you will encounter 10 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: near the start (70th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Webster City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Des Moines along the way.
Des Moines
8.1 mi in|~12m|via I 35
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 78.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.9 miles on I 35. 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 1.2 miles (Meredith Drive): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Webster City, IA before heading back.
