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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Grundy Center, IA is about 209.7 miles (337.4 km), with a travel time of about 04h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 176.4 miles (283.9 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
209.63 mi
04h 08m
Flight
176.43 mi
283.94 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
176.43 mi
Kilometers
283.94 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.63 mi
Kilometers
337.37 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 Grundy Center
Sun, Apr 19, 8:11 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Sun, Apr 19, 12:19 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-19T04:03
Arrive Grundy Center
Sun, Apr 19, 8:11 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 Council Bluffs
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
De Soto
IA

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

From Council Bluffs
104.6 mi
02h 04m
To Grundy Center
105 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
68°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph W
Destination
53°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph WNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    4.5 mi · 5 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

    2428 ft · 1 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road

    35.2 mi · 42 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  16. 16

    Continue on G Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · G Avenue

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · G Avenue

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 56%
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi · 17%
I 35
18.9 mi · 9%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 8%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 3%
Marsh Avenue
5.95 mi · 3%
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 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+33.3 mi
176.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
De Soto
02h 04m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
8:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Council Bluffs and Sunny near Grundy Center.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Council Bluffs to Grundy Center?

The road trip is about 209.7 miles (337.4 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?

De Soto is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.6 miles from Council Bluffs and 105 miles from Grundy Center.

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

The direct path is about 176.4 miles (283.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 33.3 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 $27.91 one way or $55.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

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 Grundy Center. Straight-line distance: 176.43 mi (283.94 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Population62,216
Coordinates41.2619400, -95.8608300
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Grundy Center

#2 Grundy Center

City in Iowa

Population2,670
Coordinates42.3616500, -92.7685300
Altitude312
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Grundy Center (-92.76853, 42.36165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 337 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.4 gal
28 L · about $27.91
Round trip
$55.81
14.8 gal · 56 L
Estimated CO2
65.8 kg one way
Round trip: 131.5 kg / 290 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.91 $55.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.47 $62.94
Premium $4.65 $34.44 $68.88
Diesel $5.30 $39.25 $78.50

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 Grundy Center. The current time is 04:03:22.

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.