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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Centerville, IA is about 214.1 miles (344.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 159.9 miles (257.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 41m 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
214.13 mi
04h 20m
Flight
159.95 mi
257.42 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
159.95 mi
Kilometers
257.42 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
214.13 mi
Kilometers
344.61 km
Drive Time
04h 20m

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 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Centerville
Sat, Apr 18, 11:00 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Sat, Apr 18, 3:21 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-18T06:39
Arrive Centerville
Sat, Apr 18, 11:00 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 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
8:18 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
De Soto
IA

Human settlement in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

From Council Bluffs
106.9 mi
02h 10m
To Centerville
107.2 mi
02h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
57°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
12 to 15 mph NW
Destination
52°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
16 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1510 ft · 19 sec

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Kansas City

    2130 ft · 52 sec · Ramp 72 H

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk

    1.3 km · 1 min

  10. 10

    Continue on Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

    12.9 mi · 15 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle

    19 mi · 23 min

  12. 12

    Turn left

    10.6 mi · 12 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    2592 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Turn right

    25.6 mi · 38 min

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto South Clinton Street

    20.6 mi · 31 min · South Clinton Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto East Washington Street

    1483 ft · 1 min · East Washington Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto North 13th Street

    110 m · 16 sec · North 13th Street

  18. 18

    Continue on North 13th Street

    92 m · 14 sec · North 13th Street

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North 13th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 55%
South Clinton Street
20.6 mi · 10%
IA 5 South
19.5 mi · 9%
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi · 6%
Ramp 72 H
2.1 mi · 1%
I 35 South
2.1 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

West Kanesville Boulevard

Merge slight left

114 mi · 02h 02m

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 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.2 mi
159.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
De Soto
02h 10m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
8:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny leaving Council Bluffs and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Centerville.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 214.1 miles (344.6 km) and usually takes 04h 20m 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?

De Soto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 106.9 miles from Council Bluffs and 107.2 miles from Centerville.

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

The direct path is about 159.9 miles (257.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.2 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 8:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.51 one way or $57.02 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny around Council Bluffs and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Centerville.

Stop Ideas Near De Soto

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

59 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

60 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Centerville. Straight-line distance: 159.95 mi (257.42 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Population62,216
Coordinates41.2619400, -95.8608300
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Centerville

#2 Centerville

City in Iowa, United States

Population5,414
Coordinates40.7341800, -92.8740900
Altitude307
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Centerville (-92.87409, 40.73418)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 345 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 16m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 03m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.56 gal
28.6 L · about $28.51
Round trip
$57.02
15.12 gal · 57.2 L
Estimated CO2
67.2 kg one way
Round trip: 134.4 kg / 296 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.51 $57.02
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.15 $64.31
Premium $4.65 $35.18 $70.37
Diesel $5.30 $40.10 $80.20

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Council Bluffs and Centerville. The current time is 06:39:45.

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.