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

The driving distance from Bellevue, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is about 332.6 miles (535.3 km), with a travel time of about 05h 22m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 288.6 miles (464.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 44m 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
332.61 mi
05h 22m
Flight
288.55 mi
464.37 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bellevue.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
288.55 mi
Kilometers
464.37 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
332.61 mi
Kilometers
535.29 km
Drive Time
05h 22m

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 05h 22m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Council Bluffs
Sat, Apr 18, 4:48 AM CDT
Return by in Bellevue
Sat, Apr 18, 10:10 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bellevue
2026-04-17T23:26
Arrive Council Bluffs
Sat, Apr 18, 4:48 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 22m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:22 AM to 1:22 PM CDT

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

Leave by
6:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bellevue
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
Melbourne
IA

City in Iowa, United States of America

From Bellevue
166.7 mi
02h 41m
To Council Bluffs
166 mi
02h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
76°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 18 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Riverview Street

    2.5 mi · 4 min · South Riverview Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Great River Road

    7.6 mi · 10 min · Great River Road

  3. 3

    Continue on Main Street

    2641 ft · 55 sec · Main Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Great River Road

    9.1 mi · 12 min · Great River Road

  5. 5

    Continue on Bellevue Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Bellevue Road

  6. 6

    Turn left

    2.9 mi · 4 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right

    57 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  8. 8

    Turn left

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Turn right

    15.2 mi · 19 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

    1.2 km · 1 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

  12. 12

    Continue on 73rd Street

    24.4 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    37.3 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  14. 14

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

    1818 ft · 46 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard

    33.7 mi · 40 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  16. 16

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.1 km · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  17. 17

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

    13 mi · 16 min

  18. 18

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  19. 19

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  20. 20

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

    19.1 mi · 20 min

  21. 21

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

    1648 ft · 31 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  23. 23

    Continue on East Broadway

    772 ft · 21 sec · East Broadway

  24. 24

    Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  25. 25

    Continue on West Broadway

    1993 ft · 51 sec · West Broadway

  26. 26

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
26 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
1 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
133 mi · 40%
Bellevue Road
57.8 mi · 17%
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi · 11%
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi · 10%
73rd Street
24.4 mi · 7%
Great River Road
16.7 mi · 5%
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
05h 22m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44 mi
288.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Melbourne
02h 41m from Bellevue
Leave By
6:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Bellevue and Chance Rain Showers near Council Bluffs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 332.6 miles (535.3 km) and usually takes 05h 22m 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?

Melbourne is a useful midpoint, sitting about 166.7 miles from Bellevue and 166 miles from Council Bluffs.

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

The direct path is about 288.6 miles (464.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 44 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 6:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $44.27 one way or $88.54 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 104.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Bellevue and Chance Rain Showers near Council Bluffs.

Stop Ideas Near Melbourne

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Melbourne, 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 Melbourne.

RAIL

Osceola

115 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

117 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bellevue and Council Bluffs. Straight-line distance: 288.55 mi (464.37 km).

Bellevue

#1 Bellevue

City in Jackson County, Iowa, United States

Population2,185
Coordinates42.2586300, -90.4229100
Altitude188
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: South Riverview Drive (-90.423001, 42.258609)
End: West Broadway (-95.86083, 41.261939)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 535 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 39m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 45m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.74 gal
44.43 L · about $44.27
Round trip
$88.54
23.48 gal · 88.86 L
Estimated CO2
104.3 kg one way
Round trip: 208.7 kg / 460 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $44.27 $88.54
Mid-grade $4.25 $49.93 $99.86
Premium $4.65 $54.64 $109.28
Diesel $5.30 $62.27 $124.54

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Bellevue and Council Bluffs. The current time is 23:26:03.

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.