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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Robins, IA is about 251.2 miles (404.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 223.6 miles (359.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 46m 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
251.21 mi
04h 53m
Flight
223.54 mi
359.76 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
223.54 mi
Kilometers
359.76 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
251.21 mi
Kilometers
404.28 km
Drive Time
04h 53m

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 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Robins
Thu, Apr 23, 7:54 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 23, 12:48 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-23T03:01
Arrive Robins
Thu, Apr 23, 7:54 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 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
7:14 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
Urbandale
IA

A city in Polk County, Iowa.

From Council Bluffs
125.3 mi
02h 26m
To Robins
125.8 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 mph S
Destination
78°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    33.5 mi · 39 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  11. 11

    Take the exit right

    2792 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway

    37 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  13. 13

    Continue on 73rd Street

    26.8 mi · 31 min · 73rd Street

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

    1.6 km · 2 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    9.3 mi · 11 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Council Street Northeast

    2.4 mi · 6 min · Council Street Northeast

  17. 17

    Continue on South Mentzer Road

    2686 ft · 1 min · South Mentzer Road

  18. 18

    Turn left onto East Main Street

    2565 ft · 1 min · East Main Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto South 2nd Street

    91 m · 13 sec · South 2nd Street

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 2nd Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
20 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 47%
Lincoln Highway
37 mi · 15%
Northeast Hubbell Road
34 mi · 14%
73rd Street
26.8 mi · 11%
I 35
18.9 mi · 8%
IA 100 East
10.3 mi · 4%
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 53m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+27.6 mi
223.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Urbandale
02h 26m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
7:14 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Council Bluffs and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Robins.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 251.2 miles (404.3 km) and usually takes 04h 53m 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?

Urbandale is a useful midpoint, sitting about 125.3 miles from Council Bluffs and 125.8 miles from Robins.

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

The direct path is about 223.6 miles (359.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 27.6 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 7:14 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.45 one way or $66.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Council Bluffs and Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Robins.

Stop Ideas Near Urbandale

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

66 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

83 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Robins. Straight-line distance: 223.54 mi (359.76 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

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

#2 Robins

City in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Population3,570
Coordinates42.0711100, -91.6668400
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Robins (-91.66684, 42.07111)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 404 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 35m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 08m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.87 gal
33.56 L · about $33.45
Round trip
$66.90
17.74 gal · 67.12 L
Estimated CO2
78.8 kg one way
Round trip: 157.7 kg / 348 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.45 $66.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.72 $75.45
Premium $4.65 $41.28 $82.56
Diesel $5.30 $47.05 $94.09

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Council Bluffs and Robins. The current time is 03:01:47.

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.