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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Waverly, IA is about 251.5 miles (404.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 03m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 201.1 miles (323.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 07m 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
251.56 mi
05h 03m
Flight
201.1 mi
323.64 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
201.1 mi
Kilometers
323.64 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
251.56 mi
Kilometers
404.84 km
Drive Time
05h 03m

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 05h 03m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Waverly
Wed, Apr 29, 8:58 PM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Thu, Apr 30, 2:02 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-29T15:54
Arrive Waverly
Wed, Apr 29, 8:58 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 03m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:04 AM to 1:04 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
6:52 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
125.6 mi
02h 31m
To Waverly
126 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
40°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NNW
Destination
41°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    35.2 mi · 42 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on South Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  18. 18

    Turn sharp right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  19. 19

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.4 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  20. 20

    Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

    2388 ft · 58 sec

  21. 21

    Merge slight left

    11.2 mi · 13 min

  22. 22

    Take the exit slight right toward CR D18: Cedar Falls

    2133 ft · 1 min

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Grundy Road

    1.6 km · 1 min · Grundy Road

  24. 24

    Continue on University Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · University Avenue

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Greenhill Road

    2 m · 1 sec · Greenhill Road

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Greenhill Road

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Greenhill Road

  27. 27

    Turn left onto Avenue of the Saints

    14.4 mi · 17 min · Avenue of the Saints

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right

    1.2 km · 2 min

  29. 29

    Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest

    1 km · 60 sec · 4th Avenue Southwest

  30. 30

    Continue on 4th Street Southwest

    3228 ft · 1 min · 4th Street Southwest

  31. 31

    Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest

    966 ft · 19 sec · 4th Avenue Southwest

  32. 32

    Turn straight onto 4th Street Southwest

    3076 ft · 1 min · 4th Street Southwest

  33. 33

    Turn right onto West Bremer Avenue

    19 m · 2 sec · West Bremer Avenue

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Bremer Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
34 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
2 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 47%
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi · 14%
I 35
18.9 mi · 8%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 6%
Avenue of the Saints
15.1 mi · 6%
US 20 East
11.7 mi · 5%
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
05h 03m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 08m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.4 mi
201.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Urbandale
02h 31m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
6:52 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Council Bluffs and Chance Rain Showers near Waverly.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 251.5 miles (404.8 km) and usually takes 05h 03m 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 125.6 miles from Council Bluffs and 126 miles from Waverly.

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

The direct path is about 201.1 miles (323.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.4 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 6:52 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $33.49 one way or $66.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 78.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Council Bluffs and Chance Rain Showers near Waverly.

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 Waverly. Straight-line distance: 201.1 mi (323.64 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

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

#2 Waverly

City in Bremer County, Iowa, United States

Population10,298
Coordinates42.7258100, -92.4754600
Altitude278
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Waverly (-92.47546, 42.72581)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 405 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 17m
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
8.88 gal
33.6 L · about $33.49
Round trip
$66.97
17.76 gal · 67.2 L
Estimated CO2
78.9 kg one way
Round trip: 157.8 kg / 348 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $33.49 $66.97
Mid-grade $4.25 $37.77 $75.53
Premium $4.65 $41.33 $82.66
Diesel $5.30 $47.10 $94.20

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 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Council Bluffs and Waverly. The current time is 15:54:39.

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.