How far is Muscatine, IA from Urbandale, IA?

The driving distance from Muscatine, IA to Urbandale, IA is about 157.1 miles (252.9 km), with a travel time of about 02h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 138.8 miles (223.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
157.13 mi
02h 30m
Flight
138.76 mi
223.31 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Muscatine.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
138.76 mi
Kilometers
223.31 km
Flight Time
00h 16m

Driving Distance

Road route
157.13 mi
Kilometers
252.88 km
Drive Time
02h 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 02h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Urbandale
Tue, May 12, 9:12 PM CDT
Return by in Muscatine
Tue, May 12, 11:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Muscatine
2026-05-12T18:41
Arrive Urbandale
Tue, May 12, 9:12 PM CDT
Route Timing
02h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:28 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Muscatine
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Victor
IA

Town in Iowa, United States

From Muscatine
78.5 mi
01h 15m
To Urbandale
78.7 mi
01h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph SW
Destination
82°F
Tuesday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 21 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Muscatine and Urbandale.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Muscatine and Urbandale.

  1. 1

    Start on Walnut Street

    48 m · 11 sec · Walnut Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 3rd Street

    110 m · 18 sec · East 3rd Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Mulberry Avenue

    101 m · 10 sec · Mulberry Avenue

  4. 4

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward East 2nd Street

    59 m · 4 sec · East 2nd Street

  5. 5

    Exit the roundabout onto East 2nd Street

    1 km · 1 min · East 2nd Street

  6. 6

    Continue on Park Avenue

    2 mi · 4 min · Park Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on State Highway 38

    7.6 mi · 10 min · State Highway 38

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  9. 9

    Take the ramp straight

    1468 ft · 36 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    138.9 mi · 2 hr 31 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 28 South: Merle Hay Road, Saylorville Lake

    1872 ft · 48 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Merle Hay Road

    1 km · 1 min · Merle Hay Road

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Meredith Drive

    1.2 km · 1 min · Meredith Drive

  14. 14

    Turn left onto 70th Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · 70th Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Maryland Drive

    4 m · 1 sec · Maryland Drive

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Maryland Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Muscatine and Urbandale.

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
16 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 38
152 mi · 96%
Park Avenue
1.99 mi · 1%
70th Street
1.18 mi · 1%
Meredith Drive
0.75 mi
East 2nd Street
0.67 mi
Merle Hay Road
0.63 mi
Longest Stretch

State Highway 38

Merge slight left

139 mi · 02h 31m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 30m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18.3 mi
138.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Victor
01h 15m from Muscatine
Leave By
1:28 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Muscatine and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Urbandale.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Muscatine to Urbandale?

The road trip is about 157.1 miles (252.9 km) and usually takes 02h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Victor is a useful midpoint, sitting about 78.5 miles from Muscatine and 78.7 miles from Urbandale.

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

The direct path is about 138.8 miles (223.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 18.3 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:28 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $20.89 one way or $41.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Muscatine and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Urbandale.

Stop Ideas Near Victor

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

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

RAIL

Ottumwa station

80 mi away
210 West Main Street
RAIL

Mount Pleasant

105 mi away
418 North Adams Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Muscatine and Urbandale. Straight-line distance: 138.76 mi (223.31 km).

Muscatine

#1 Muscatine

City in and county seat of Muscatine County, Iowa

Population23,523
Coordinates41.4244700, -91.0432100
Altitude177
CountryUnited States
Urbandale

#2 Urbandale

A city in Polk County, Iowa.

Population44,650
Coordinates41.6266600, -93.7121700
Altitude288
CountryUnited States
Start: Walnut Street (-91.04364, 41.424241)
End: Maryland Drive (-93.71217, 41.626694)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 253 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 37m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 57m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.54 gal
20.99 L · about $20.89
Round trip
$41.78
11.08 gal · 41.98 L
Estimated CO2
49.2 kg one way
Round trip: 98.5 kg / 217 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $20.89 $41.78
Mid-grade $4.25 $23.56 $47.12
Premium $4.65 $25.78 $51.57
Diesel $5.30 $29.38 $58.77

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 · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Muscatine and Urbandale. The current time is 18:41:37.

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.