How far is Council Bluffs, IA from New Sharon, IA?

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to New Sharon, IA is about 197.6 miles (318 km), with a travel time of about 03h 45m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 167 miles (268.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 30m 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
197.58 mi
03h 45m
Flight
167.04 mi
268.82 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
167.04 mi
Kilometers
268.82 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
197.58 mi
Kilometers
317.97 km
Drive Time
03h 45m

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 03h 45m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in New Sharon
Thu, Apr 16, 6:48 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 16, 10:33 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-16T03:02
Arrive New Sharon
Thu, Apr 16, 6:48 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 45m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:45 AM to 11:45 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:30 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
Earlham
IA

City

From Council Bluffs
98.6 mi
01h 52m
To New Sharon
99 mi
01h 52m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 12 mph SSW
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Council Bluffs and New Sharon.

  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

    45.2 mi · 49 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon

    1770 ft · 47 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto State Highway 146

    17.9 mi · 25 min · State Highway 146

  10. 10

    Continue on North Main Street

    2543 ft · 43 sec · North Main Street

  11. 11

    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 New Sharon.

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
11 steps
1 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 60%
I 35
59.6 mi · 30%
State Highway 146
17.9 mi · 9%
West Broadway
0.97 mi
North Main Street
0.48 mi
IA 146
0.33 mi
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
03h 45m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.6 mi
167 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Earlham
01h 52m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
9:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Council Bluffs and Sunny near New Sharon.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Council Bluffs to New Sharon?

The road trip is about 197.6 miles (318 km) and usually takes 03h 45m 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?

Earlham is a useful midpoint, sitting about 98.6 miles from Council Bluffs and 99 miles from New Sharon.

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

The direct path is about 167 miles (268.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.6 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 9:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.28 one way or $52.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Council Bluffs and Sunny near New Sharon.

Stop Ideas Near Earlham

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

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

RAIL

Creston

52 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue
RAIL

Osceola

59 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and New Sharon. Straight-line distance: 167.04 mi (268.82 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 New Sharon

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

Population1,286
Coordinates41.4700000, -92.6513000
Altitude266
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: New Sharon (-92.6513, 41.47)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 318 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 57m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.97 gal
26.39 L · about $26.28
Round trip
$52.57
13.94 gal · 52.78 L
Estimated CO2
61.9 kg one way
Round trip: 123.9 kg / 273 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.28 $52.57
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.64 $59.29
Premium $4.65 $32.44 $64.88
Diesel $5.30 $36.97 $73.94

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Council Bluffs and New Sharon. The current time is 03:02:55.

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.