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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Keokuk, IA is about 312.3 miles (502.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 241.5 miles (388.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 04m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
312.33 mi
06h 02m
Flight
241.48 mi
388.62 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
241.48 mi
Kilometers
388.62 km
Flight Time
00h 29m

Driving Distance

Road route
312.33 mi
Kilometers
502.64 km
Drive Time
06h 02m

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 06h 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Keokuk
Fri, May 22, 2:05 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Fri, May 22, 8:07 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-05-21T20:02
Arrive Keokuk
Fri, May 22, 2:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:02 PM to 1:32 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:56 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Council Bluffs
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Pleasantville
IA

City in Marion County, Iowa

From Council Bluffs
155.9 mi
03h 01m
To Keokuk
156.4 mi
03h 01m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
63°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Thu, May 21 3:00 PM CDT
Wind
12 mph ESE
Destination
71°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, May 21 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    32.3 mi · 36 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit right

    2173 ft · 53 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    77.6 mi · 1 hr 30 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    26.5 mi · 31 min · Avenue of the Saints

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward US 218 South: Keokuk

    1957 ft · 53 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left

    9.6 mi · 14 min

  18. 18

    Turn right

    5.7 mi · 7 min

  19. 19

    Continue on Main Street

    3.5 mi · 6 min · Main Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Main Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
20 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 38%
IA 5 South
97.1 mi · 31%
Avenue of the Saints
26.5 mi · 8%
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi · 4%
Main Street
3.49 mi · 1%
Ramp 72 H
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

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 02m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+70.8 mi
241.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pleasantville
03h 01m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
11:56 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Mostly Cloudy leaving Council Bluffs and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Keokuk.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 312.3 miles (502.6 km) and usually takes 06h 02m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Pleasantville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155.9 miles from Council Bluffs and 156.4 miles from Keokuk.

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

The direct path is about 241.5 miles (388.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 70.8 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.56 one way or $83.11 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy around Council Bluffs and Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers near Keokuk.

Stop Ideas Near Pleasantville

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

57 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

82 mi away
210 West Main Street
RAIL

Creston

98 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Keokuk. Straight-line distance: 241.48 mi (388.62 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

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

#2 Keokuk

City in Iowa, USA

Population10,090
Coordinates40.3972700, -91.3848700
Altitude174
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Keokuk (-91.38487, 40.39727)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 503 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 48m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 12m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 53m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.02 gal
41.72 L · about $41.56
Round trip
$83.11
22.04 gal · 83.44 L
Estimated CO2
97.9 kg one way
Round trip: 195.9 kg / 432 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.56 $83.11
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.87 $93.74
Premium $4.65 $51.29 $102.57
Diesel $5.30 $58.45 $116.90

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 · May 22, 2026

There is no time difference between Council Bluffs and Keokuk. The current time is 20:02:56.

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.