How far is Council Bluffs, IA from Missouri Valley, IA?

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Missouri Valley, IA is about 21.9 miles (35.2 km), with a travel time of about 00h 28m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 20.4 miles (32.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 57m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
21.87 mi
00h 28m
Flight
20.39 mi
32.82 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Council Bluffs.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
20.39 mi
Kilometers
32.82 km
Flight Time
00h 02m

Driving Distance

Road route
21.87 mi
Kilometers
35.2 km
Drive Time
00h 28m

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 00h 28m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Missouri Valley
Sun, Apr 19, 2:10 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Sun, Apr 19, 2:39 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-19T01:41
Arrive Missouri Valley
Sun, Apr 19, 2:10 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 28m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:29 AM to 7:29 PM CDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
7:32 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in Council Bluffs
10:00 PM CDT
Flexible departure

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
Crescent
IA

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

From Council Bluffs
10.9 mi
00h 14m
To Missouri Valley
10.9 mi
00h 14m

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
63°F
Sunday

Sunny

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley.

  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 left onto East Erie Street

    2 m · 1 sec · East Erie Street

  11. 11

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Erie Street

Car Route Details

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

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
11 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North 16th Street
16.8 mi · 77%
Loess Hills Trail
3.06 mi · 14%
Old Lincoln Highway
0.56 mi · 3%
South 6th Street
0.45 mi · 2%
Loveland
0.37 mi · 2%
West Broadway
0.35 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

North 16th Street

Merge slight left

14.9 mi · 00h 16m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 28m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+1.5 mi
20.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Crescent
00h 14m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
7:32 PM CDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Council Bluffs and Sunny near Missouri Valley.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Council Bluffs to Missouri Valley?

The road trip is about 21.9 miles (35.2 km) and usually takes 00h 28m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Crescent is a useful midpoint, sitting about 10.9 miles from Council Bluffs and 10.9 miles from Missouri Valley.

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

The direct path is about 20.4 miles (32.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 1.5 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:32 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $2.90 one way or $5.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 6.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Crescent

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

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

RAIL

Omaha

14 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Lincoln

94 mi away
201 North 7th St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Missouri Valley. Straight-line distance: 20.39 mi (32.82 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Population62,216
Coordinates41.2619400, -95.8608300
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Missouri Valley

#2 Missouri Valley

City in Harrison County, Iowa

Population2,576
Coordinates41.5563800, -95.8877900
Altitude310
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Missouri Valley (-95.88779, 41.55638)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 35 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 43m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.77 gal
2.92 L · about $2.90
Round trip
$5.81
1.54 gal · 5.84 L
Estimated CO2
6.8 kg one way
Round trip: 13.7 kg / 30 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $2.90 $5.81
Mid-grade $4.25 $3.27 $6.55
Premium $4.65 $3.58 $7.17
Diesel $5.30 $4.08 $8.17

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 Missouri Valley. The current time is 01:41:32.

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.