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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Denison, IA is about 66.4 miles (106.9 km), with a travel time of about 01h 34m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 58.4 miles (94 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 09m 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
66.41 mi
01h 34m
Flight
58.38 mi
93.96 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
58.38 mi
Kilometers
93.96 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
66.41 mi
Kilometers
106.87 km
Drive Time
01h 34m

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 01h 34m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Denison
Sat, Apr 18, 8:57 PM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Sat, Apr 18, 10:32 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-18T19:22
Arrive Denison
Sat, Apr 18, 8:57 PM CDT
Route Timing
01h 34m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:35 AM to 11:35 AM CDT

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

Leave by
3:20 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
Logan
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Council Bluffs
33.2 mi
00h 47m
To Denison
33.2 mi
00h 47m

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
51°F
Saturday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Broadway

    1850 ft · 49 sec · West Broadway

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North 16th Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · North 16th Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp straight

    2564 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    14.9 mi · 16 min

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward Loveland

    1934 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Desoto Avenue

    1522 ft · 51 sec · Desoto Avenue

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Old Lincoln Highway

    2978 ft · 46 sec · Old Lincoln Highway

  8. 8

    Continue on Loess Hills Trail

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Loess Hills Trail

  9. 9

    Continue on South 6th Street

    2367 ft · 1 min · South 6th Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Erie Street

    1812 ft · 1 min · East Erie Street

  11. 11

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    7.5 mi · 11 min · Lincoln Highway

  12. 12

    Continue on South Maple Avenue

    1688 ft · 43 sec · South Maple Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto West 7th Street

    1908 ft · 1 min · West 7th Street

  14. 14

    Continue on County Road F50

    17.4 mi · 24 min · County Road F50

  15. 15

    Continue on South 3rd Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · South 3rd Street

  16. 16

    Continue on South 6th Street

    16.5 mi · 24 min · South 6th Street

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto 260th Street

    2414 ft · 41 sec · 260th Street

  18. 18

    Turn slight right onto US 30 East: Carroll

    2843 ft · 1 min

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South Main Street

    1961 ft · 60 sec · South Main Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
20 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
30.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
County Road F50
17.4 mi · 26%
South 6th Street
17 mi · 26%
North 16th Street
16.8 mi · 25%
Lincoln Highway
7.53 mi · 11%
Loess Hills Trail
3.06 mi · 5%
South 3rd Street
0.72 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

County Road F50

Continue on County Road F50

17.4 mi · 00h 24m

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
01h 34m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+8 mi
58.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Logan
00h 47m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
3:20 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers then Sunny leaving Council Bluffs and Sunny near Denison.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 66.4 miles (106.9 km) and usually takes 01h 34m 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?

Logan is a useful midpoint, sitting about 33.2 miles from Council Bluffs and 33.2 miles from Denison.

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

The direct path is about 58.4 miles (94 km), while the road route adds roughly 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 3:20 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.82 one way or $17.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 20.8 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 Sunny near Denison.

Stop Ideas Near Logan

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

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

RAIL

Omaha

45 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Denison. Straight-line distance: 58.38 mi (93.96 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

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

#2 Denison

City in Iowa, United States

Population8,249
Coordinates42.0177700, -95.3552800
Altitude391
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Denison (-95.35528, 42.01777)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 107 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 39m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.34 gal
8.87 L · about $8.82
Round trip
$17.65
4.68 gal · 17.74 L
Estimated CO2
20.8 kg one way
Round trip: 41.6 kg / 92 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $8.82 $17.65
Mid-grade $4.25 $9.95 $19.90
Premium $4.65 $10.89 $21.78
Diesel $5.30 $12.41 $24.82

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Council Bluffs and Denison. The current time is 19:22:40.

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.