How far is Atkins, IA from Council Bluffs, IA?

The driving distance from Atkins, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is about 234.8 miles (377.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 212.6 miles (342.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 31m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
234.79 mi
03h 45m
Flight
212.64 mi
342.21 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Atkins.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
212.64 mi
Kilometers
342.21 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
234.79 mi
Kilometers
377.86 km
Drive Time
03h 45m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 16, 6:50 AM CDT
Return by in Atkins
Thu, Apr 16, 10:36 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Atkins
2026-04-16T03:05
Arrive Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 16, 6:50 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:46 AM to 11:46 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Atkins
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Clive
IA

Human settlement in Iowa, United States of America

From Atkins
117.3 mi
01h 52m
To Council Bluffs
117.5 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Atkins and Council Bluffs.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Atkins and Council Bluffs.

  1. 1

    Start on Main Avenue

    1560 ft · 1 min · Main Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Park Ridge Road

    3087 ft · 1 min · Park Ridge Road

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 32nd Avenue

    2 mi · 4 min · 32nd Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto 73rd Street

    22.4 mi · 26 min · 73rd Street

  5. 5

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    37.3 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

    1818 ft · 46 sec

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard

    33.7 mi · 40 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.1 km · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    13 mi · 16 min

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

    19.1 mi · 20 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland

    1648 ft · 31 sec

  14. 14

    Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  15. 15

    Continue on East Broadway

    772 ft · 21 sec · East Broadway

  16. 16

    Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on West Broadway

    1993 ft · 51 sec · West Broadway

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Atkins and Council Bluffs.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
0 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
133 mi · 57%
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi · 16%
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi · 14%
73rd Street
22.4 mi · 10%
East Kanesville Boulevard
3.74 mi · 2%
32nd Avenue
2 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

95.5 mi · 01h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 45m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.2 mi
212.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clive
01h 52m from Atkins
Leave By
9:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving Atkins and Sunny near Council Bluffs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Atkins to Council Bluffs?

The road trip is about 234.8 miles (377.9 km) and usually takes 03h 45m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Clive is a useful midpoint, sitting about 117.3 miles from Atkins and 117.5 miles from Council Bluffs.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 212.6 miles (342.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.22 one way or $62.45 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers around Atkins and Sunny near Council Bluffs.

Stop Ideas Near Clive

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Clive, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clive.

RAIL

Osceola

63 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

81 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Atkins and Council Bluffs. Straight-line distance: 212.64 mi (342.21 km).

Atkins

#1 Atkins

City in Benton County, Iowa, United States

Population1,978
Coordinates41.9969400, -91.8621300
Altitude260
CountryUnited States
Council Bluffs

#2 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Population62,216
Coordinates41.2619400, -95.8608300
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Avenue (-91.86201, 41.996941)
End: West Broadway (-95.86083, 41.261939)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 378 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 49m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 52m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 41m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.28 gal
31.36 L · about $31.22
Round trip
$62.45
16.56 gal · 62.72 L
Estimated CO2
73.6 kg one way
Round trip: 147.2 kg / 325 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.22 $62.45
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.21 $70.43
Premium $4.65 $38.54 $77.07
Diesel $5.30 $43.92 $87.83

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Atkins and Council Bluffs. The current time is 03:05:20.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.