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

The driving distance from Council Bluffs, IA to Wilton, IA is about 271.8 miles (437.4 km), with a travel time of about 05h 02m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 252 miles (405.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 04m 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
271.82 mi
05h 02m
Flight
251.93 mi
405.45 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
251.93 mi
Kilometers
405.45 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
271.82 mi
Kilometers
437.45 km
Drive Time
05h 02m

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 02m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Wilton
Fri, Apr 17, 2:03 PM CDT
Return by in Council Bluffs
Fri, Apr 17, 7:05 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Council Bluffs
2026-04-17T09:01
Arrive Wilton
Fri, Apr 17, 2:03 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 02m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:02 AM to 1:02 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
6:56 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
Altoona
IA

City in Polk County, Iowa, United States

From Council Bluffs
135.6 mi
02h 31m
To Wilton
136.2 mi
02h 31m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 18 mph WSW
Destination
81°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    133.7 mi · 2 hr 25 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, IA 38 South: Wilton, Muscatine

    1254 ft · 31 sec

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Rose Avenue

    2.6 mi · 4 min · Rose Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on United States Highway 6

    2583 ft · 49 sec · United States Highway 6

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West 5th Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West 5th Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Maurer Street

    97 m · 14 sec · Maurer Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Maurer Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
13 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 35
148 mi · 54%
West Kanesville Boulevard
118 mi · 44%
Rose Avenue
2.61 mi · 1%
West 5th Street
1.11 mi
West Broadway
0.97 mi
United States Highway 6
0.49 mi
Longest Stretch

I 35

Keep slight left

134 mi · 02h 25m

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 02m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 04m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+19.8 mi
252 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Altoona
02h 31m from Council Bluffs
Leave By
6:56 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Council Bluffs and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Wilton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 271.8 miles (437.4 km) and usually takes 05h 02m 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?

Altoona is a useful midpoint, sitting about 135.6 miles from Council Bluffs and 136.2 miles from Wilton.

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

The direct path is about 252 miles (405.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 19.8 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 6:56 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.16 one way or $72.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 85.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Council Bluffs and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Wilton.

Stop Ideas Near Altoona

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

72 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

99 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue
RAIL

Ottumwa station

112 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Council Bluffs and Wilton. Straight-line distance: 251.93 mi (405.45 km).

Council Bluffs

#1 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

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

#2 Wilton

City in Muscatine County, Iowa

Population2,800
Coordinates41.5889200, -91.0168200
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Start: Council Bluffs (-95.86083, 41.26194)
End: Wilton (-91.01682, 41.58892)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 437 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 26m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.59 gal
36.31 L · about $36.16
Round trip
$72.33
19.18 gal · 72.62 L
Estimated CO2
85.2 kg one way
Round trip: 170.5 kg / 376 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.16 $72.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $40.79 $81.57
Premium $4.65 $44.63 $89.26
Diesel $5.30 $50.87 $101.73

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Council Bluffs and Wilton. The current time is 09:01:31.

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.