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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Creston, IA is about 98 miles (157.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 79.2 miles (127.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 50m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
98.02 mi
02h 25m
Flight
79.26 mi
127.55 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Council Bluffs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
79.26 mi
Kilometers
127.55 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
98.02 mi
Kilometers
157.74 km
Drive Time
02h 25m

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 02h 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Creston
Thu, Apr 23, 1:32 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 23, 3:57 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-22T23:07
Arrive Creston
Thu, Apr 23, 1:32 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:25 AM to 12:25 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Council Bluffs
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Red Oak
IA

City in and county seat of Montgomery County, Iowa, United States

From Council Bluffs
48.9 mi
01h 12m
To Creston
49.1 mi
01h 12m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
7 to 16 mph S
Destination
78°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 18 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Broadway

    1850 ft · 53 sec · West Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn left onto South 16th Street

    1732 ft · 57 sec · South 16th Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 5th Avenue

    1.1 km · 2 min · 5th Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn right onto South 7th Street

    142 m · 16 sec · South 7th Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight left onto South Expressway

    1.7 mi · 3 min · South Expressway

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 29 South, I 80 East: Des Moines, Kansas City

    2672 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 29 South: Kansas City

    2835 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    12.3 mi · 13 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 34, US 275 South: South Bellevue, Glenwood

    1809 ft · 44 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left

    1.2 km · 2 min

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 34

    79.2 mi · 1 hr 58 min · US Highway 34

  12. 12

    Continue on West Taylor Street

    914 ft · 24 sec · West Taylor Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto South Sumner Avenue

    1048 ft · 20 sec · South Sumner Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right onto West New York Avenue

    2438 ft · 49 sec · West New York Avenue

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Adams Street

    1506 ft · 47 sec · West Adams Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto North Pine Street

    135 m · 22 sec · North Pine Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto East Montgomery Street

    12 m · 2 sec · East Montgomery Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Montgomery Street

Car Route Details

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

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
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US Highway 34
79.2 mi · 81%
I 29 South
13.4 mi · 14%
South Expressway
1.71 mi · 2%
US 34
1.08 mi · 1%
5th Avenue
0.67 mi · 1%
West New York Avenue
0.46 mi
Longest Stretch

US Highway 34

Merge slight left onto US Highway 34

79.2 mi · 01h 58m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 25m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.8 mi
79.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Red Oak
01h 12m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
1:40 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Council Bluffs and Sunny near Creston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 98 miles (157.7 km) and usually takes 02h 25m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Red Oak is a useful midpoint, sitting about 48.9 miles from Council Bluffs and 49.1 miles from Creston.

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

The direct path is about 79.2 miles (127.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.05 one way or $26.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 30.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Red Oak

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

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

RAIL

Omaha

65 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Creston

73 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Creston. Straight-line distance: 79.26 mi (127.55 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

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

#2 Creston

City in Iowa

Population7,660
Coordinates41.0586000, -94.3613500
Altitude400
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Creston (-94.36135, 41.0586)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 158 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 15m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 27m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.46 gal
13.09 L · about $13.05
Round trip
$26.10
6.92 gal · 26.18 L
Estimated CO2
30.7 kg one way
Round trip: 61.5 kg / 136 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.05 $26.10
Mid-grade $4.25 $14.72 $29.43
Premium $4.65 $16.10 $32.21
Diesel $5.30 $18.35 $36.70

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 Creston. The current time is 23:07:08.

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.