How far is Center Point, IA from Council Bluffs, IA?

The driving distance from Center Point, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is about 253.8 miles (408.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 219.7 miles (353.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 16m 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
253.77 mi
04h 08m
Flight
219.72 mi
353.61 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Center Point.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
219.72 mi
Kilometers
353.61 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
253.77 mi
Kilometers
408.41 km
Drive Time
04h 08m

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 04h 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 23, 12:39 AM CDT
Return by in Center Point
Thu, Apr 23, 4:47 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Center Point
2026-04-22T20:31
Arrive Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 23, 12:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:08 AM to 12:08 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
8:44 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Center Point
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
Saylorville
IA

City in Polk County, Iowa, United States of America

From Center Point
129.5 mi
02h 04m
To Council Bluffs
124.3 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph SE
Destination
83°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Center Point and Council Bluffs.

  1. 1

    Start on State Street

    864 ft · 26 sec · State Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Franklin Street

    1.2 km · 2 min · Franklin Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Lewis Access Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Lewis Access Road

  4. 4

    Take the ramp sharp left

    1995 ft · 49 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    10.8 mi · 12 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 100

    1286 ft · 31 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    802 ft · 20 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on IA 100

    1460 ft · 28 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on IA 100 West

    1534 ft · 38 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Collins Road Northeast

    8.2 mi · 9 min · Collins Road Northeast

  11. 11

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

    1.2 km · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

  13. 13

    Continue on 73rd Street

    24.4 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

  14. 14

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    37.3 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  15. 15

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

    1818 ft · 46 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard

    33.7 mi · 40 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  17. 17

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.1 km · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  18. 18

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

    13 mi · 16 min

  19. 19

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  21. 21

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

    19.1 mi · 20 min

  22. 22

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

    1648 ft · 31 sec

  23. 23

    Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  24. 24

    Continue on East Broadway

    772 ft · 21 sec · East Broadway

  25. 25

    Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  26. 26

    Continue on West Broadway

    1993 ft · 51 sec · West Broadway

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Center Point 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
27 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
133 mi · 52%
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi · 15%
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi · 13%
73rd Street
24.4 mi · 10%
Avenue of the Saints
10.8 mi · 4%
Collins Road Northeast
8.16 mi · 3%
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
04h 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+34.1 mi
219.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Saylorville
02h 04m from Center Point
Leave By
8:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Center Point 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 Center Point to Council Bluffs?

The road trip is about 253.8 miles (408.4 km) and usually takes 04h 08m 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?

Saylorville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.5 miles from Center Point and 124.3 miles from Council Bluffs.

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

The direct path is about 219.7 miles (353.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 34.1 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 8:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.79 one way or $67.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 79.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Center Point and Sunny near Council Bluffs.

Stop Ideas Near Saylorville

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

72 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

92 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Center Point and Council Bluffs. Straight-line distance: 219.72 mi (353.61 km).

Center Point

#1 Center Point

City in Iowa

Population2,560
Coordinates42.1908300, -91.7851800
Altitude250
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: State Street (-91.785214, 42.19087)
End: West Broadway (-95.86083, 41.261939)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 408 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 20m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 04m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 13m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 37m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.96 gal
33.9 L · about $33.79
Round trip
$67.58
17.92 gal · 67.8 L
Estimated CO2
79.6 kg one way
Round trip: 159.3 kg / 351 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.79 $67.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.11 $76.21
Premium $4.65 $41.70 $83.40
Diesel $5.30 $47.52 $95.05

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Center Point and Council Bluffs. The current time is 20:31:04.

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.