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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Walford, IA is about 239 miles (384.6 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 212.4 miles (341.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 00m 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
238.97 mi
04h 30m
Flight
212.42 mi
341.85 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
212.42 mi
Kilometers
341.85 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
238.97 mi
Kilometers
384.59 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Walford
Thu, Apr 16, 9:50 AM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 16, 2:20 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-16T05:20
Arrive Walford
Thu, Apr 16, 9:50 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 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
8:00 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
Clive
IA

Human settlement in Iowa, United States of America

From Council Bluffs
119.2 mi
02h 15m
To Walford
119.7 mi
02h 15m

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
74°F
Thursday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    87.6 mi · 1 hr 34 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 151 North, CR W21 South: Amana Colonies

    1421 ft · 42 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto U Avenue

    5.6 mi · 8 min · U Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue straight

    11.8 mi · 17 min

  11. 11

    Turn left onto 3rd Street North

    65 m · 15 sec · 3rd Street North

  12. 12

    Turn left onto B Avenue West

    33 m · 5 sec · B Avenue West

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · B Avenue West

Car Route Details

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

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
5.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 49%
I 35
102 mi · 43%
U Avenue
17.4 mi · 7%
West Broadway
0.97 mi
US 151 North
0.27 mi
3rd Street North
0.04 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
04h 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.6 mi
212.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clive
02h 15m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
8:00 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Council Bluffs and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Walford.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 239 miles (384.6 km) and usually takes 04h 30m 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?

Clive is a useful midpoint, sitting about 119.2 miles from Council Bluffs and 119.7 miles from Walford.

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

The direct path is about 212.4 miles (341.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.6 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 8:00 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.79 one way or $63.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Council Bluffs and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Walford.

Stop Ideas Near Clive

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

63 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

81 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Walford. Straight-line distance: 212.42 mi (341.85 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

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

#2 Walford

City in Iowa, United States of America

Population1,436
Coordinates41.8783400, -91.8346200
Altitude245
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Walford (-91.83462, 41.87834)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 385 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.43 gal
31.92 L · about $31.79
Round trip
$63.58
16.86 gal · 63.84 L
Estimated CO2
74.9 kg one way
Round trip: 149.8 kg / 330 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.79 $63.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.85 $71.71
Premium $4.65 $39.23 $78.47
Diesel $5.30 $44.71 $89.43

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 Walford. The current time is 05:20:42.

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.