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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Manly, IA is about 258.7 miles (416.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 195 miles (313.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 37m 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
258.7 mi
04h 48m
Flight
195.05 mi
313.91 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
195.05 mi
Kilometers
313.91 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
258.7 mi
Kilometers
416.34 km
Drive Time
04h 48m

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 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Manly
Sat, Apr 18, 11:43 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Sat, Apr 18, 4:32 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-18T06:54
Arrive Manly
Sat, Apr 18, 11:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 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
7:22 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
Johnston
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Council Bluffs
129.2 mi
02h 24m
To Manly
129.4 mi
02h 24m

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
44°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 22 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 right to continue on I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines

    117 mi · 2 hr 6 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right

    2004 ft · 49 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto State Highway 9

    6.9 mi · 9 min · State Highway 9

  10. 10

    Continue on West South Street

    2625 ft · 1 min · West South Street

  11. 11

    Turn sharp left onto South Todd Street

    1313 ft · 59 sec · South Todd Street

  12. 12

    Turn right

    77 m · 19 sec

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 46%
I 35 North
117 mi · 45%
I 35
14.4 mi · 6%
State Highway 9
6.85 mi · 3%
West Broadway
0.97 mi
West South Street
0.5 mi
Longest Stretch

I 35 North

Keep slight right to continue on I 35 North, I 235 South: Minneapolis, Des Moines

117 mi · 02h 06m

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 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.7 mi
195 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Johnston
02h 24m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
7:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 258.7 miles (416.3 km) and usually takes 04h 48m 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?

Johnston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 129.2 miles from Council Bluffs and 129.4 miles from Manly.

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

The direct path is about 195 miles (313.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.7 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 7:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.43 one way or $68.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 81.1 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 Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Manly.

Stop Ideas Near Johnston

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

71 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

88 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Manly. Straight-line distance: 195.05 mi (313.91 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Population62,216
Coordinates41.2619400, -95.8608300
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Manly

American city in Iowa

Population1,271
Coordinates43.2871800, -93.2021500
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Manly (-93.20215, 43.28718)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 416 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 28m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 18m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 41m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 13m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.13 gal
34.56 L · about $34.43
Round trip
$68.86
18.26 gal · 69.12 L
Estimated CO2
81.1 kg one way
Round trip: 162.3 kg / 358 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.43 $68.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.83 $77.66
Premium $4.65 $42.49 $84.98
Diesel $5.30 $48.43 $96.85

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 Manly. The current time is 06:54:59.

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.