How far is Council Bluffs, IA from Blue Grass, IA?

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Blue Grass, IA is about 289.2 miles (465.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 264.6 miles (425.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 48m 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
289.2 mi
05h 24m
Flight
264.62 mi
425.87 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Council Bluffs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
264.62 mi
Kilometers
425.87 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
289.2 mi
Kilometers
465.42 km
Drive Time
05h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Blue Grass
Thu, Apr 23, 12:27 PM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 23, 5:51 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-23T07:03
Arrive Blue Grass
Thu, Apr 23, 12:27 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:24 AM to 1:24 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
6:12 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Council Bluffs
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Mitchellville
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Council Bluffs
144.3 mi
02h 42m
To Blue Grass
145 mi
02h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 mph S
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs and Blue Grass.

  1. 1

    Start on West Broadway

    1850 ft · 1 min · West Broadway

  2. 2

    Continue on West Broadway

    3251 ft · 1 min · West Broadway

  3. 3

    Continue on West Kanesville Boulevard

    4.2 mi · 8 min · West Kanesville Boulevard

  4. 4

    Take the ramp slight left

    1399 ft · 34 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    113.8 mi · 2 hr 2 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight left

    147 mi · 2 hr 39 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward CR Y40: Walcott, Plain View

    1289 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto North Plainview Road

    1 km · 1 min · North Plainview Road

  10. 10

    Continue on 60th Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · 60th Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto 200th Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · 200th Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto 70th Avenue

    2591 ft · 52 sec · 70th Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on North Blue Grass Road

    2815 ft · 56 sec · North Blue Grass Road

  14. 14

    Continue on 70th Avenue

    4.5 mi · 8 min · 70th Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on North Mississippi Street

    2795 ft · 60 sec · North Mississippi Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto West Garonne Street

    21 m · 3 sec · West Garonne Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Garonne Street

Car Route Details

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

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
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 35
161 mi · 56%
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 41%
70th Avenue
4.99 mi · 2%
West Broadway
0.97 mi
200th Street
0.95 mi
North Plainview Road
0.64 mi
Longest Stretch

I 35

Keep slight left

147 mi · 02h 39m

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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+24.6 mi
264.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mitchellville
02h 42m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
6:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Council Bluffs and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Blue Grass.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Council Bluffs to Blue Grass?

The road trip is about 289.2 miles (465.4 km) and usually takes 05h 24m 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?

Mitchellville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 144.3 miles from Council Bluffs and 145 miles from Blue Grass.

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

The direct path is about 264.6 miles (425.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.6 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 6:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.46 one way or $76.93 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 90.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Council Bluffs and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Blue Grass.

Stop Ideas Near Mitchellville

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

78 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

107 mi away
210 West Main Street
RAIL

Creston

108 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Blue Grass. Straight-line distance: 264.62 mi (425.87 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Population62,216
Coordinates41.2619400, -95.8608300
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Blue Grass

#2 Blue Grass

City in Muscatine and Scott counties in the US state of Iowa

Population1,660
Coordinates41.5089200, -90.7659800
Altitude241
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Blue Grass (-90.76598, 41.50892)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 465 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 47m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.2 gal
38.63 L · about $38.46
Round trip
$76.93
20.4 gal · 77.26 L
Estimated CO2
90.6 kg one way
Round trip: 181.3 kg / 400 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $38.46 $76.93
Mid-grade $4.25 $43.38 $86.76
Premium $4.65 $47.47 $94.94
Diesel $5.30 $54.10 $108.20

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 Council Bluffs and Blue Grass. The current time is 07:03:30.

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.