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

The driving distance from Parkersburg, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is about 223.9 miles (360.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 41m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 182.3 miles (293.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 23m 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
223.92 mi
03h 41m
Flight
182.29 mi
293.37 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Parkersburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
182.29 mi
Kilometers
293.37 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
223.92 mi
Kilometers
360.36 km
Drive Time
03h 41m

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 03h 41m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Council Bluffs
Sun, Apr 19, 1:01 PM CDT
Return by in Parkersburg
Sun, Apr 19, 4:43 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Parkersburg
2026-04-19T09:19
Arrive Council Bluffs
Sun, Apr 19, 1:01 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 41m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:42 AM to 11:42 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:36 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Parkersburg
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
Waukee
IA

City in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

From Parkersburg
112 mi
01h 50m
To Council Bluffs
111.9 mi
01h 50m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
55°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 14 mph NW
Destination
68°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    19 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Coates Street

    1064 ft · 52 sec · Coates Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 6th Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 6th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto State Highway 14

    1 mi · 1 min · State Highway 14

  5. 5

    Continue on N Avenue

    10.9 mi · 16 min · N Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  7. 7

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  8. 8

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  12. 12

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  13. 13

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    13 mi · 16 min

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

    19.1 mi · 20 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6: Council Bluffs, Oakland

    1648 ft · 31 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  21. 21

    Continue on East Broadway

    772 ft · 21 sec · East Broadway

  22. 22

    Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  23. 23

    Continue on West Broadway

    1993 ft · 51 sec · West Broadway

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway

Car Route Details

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

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
24 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
133 mi · 59%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 7%
N Avenue
10.9 mi · 5%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 3%
Marsh Avenue
5.95 mi · 3%
160th Street
4.3 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

95.5 mi · 01h 43m

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
03h 41m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.6 mi
182.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waukee
01h 50m from Parkersburg
Leave By
9:36 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Parkersburg and Sunny near Council Bluffs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 223.9 miles (360.4 km) and usually takes 03h 41m 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?

Waukee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112 miles from Parkersburg and 111.9 miles from Council Bluffs.

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

The direct path is about 182.3 miles (293.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.6 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 9:36 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.79 one way or $59.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Parkersburg and Sunny near Council Bluffs.

Stop Ideas Near Waukee

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

65 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

73 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Parkersburg and Council Bluffs. Straight-line distance: 182.29 mi (293.37 km).

Parkersburg

#1 Parkersburg

City in Butler County, Iowa, United States

Population1,913
Coordinates42.5774800, -92.7868600
Altitude296
CountryUnited States
Council Bluffs

#2 Council Bluffs

The most populous city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

Population62,216
Coordinates41.2619400, -95.8608300
Altitude301
CountryUnited States
Start: (-92.786661, 42.577475)
End: West Broadway (-95.86083, 41.261939)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 360 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 27m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 35m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 28m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 43m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 47m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.9 gal
29.91 L · about $29.79
Round trip
$59.58
15.8 gal · 59.82 L
Estimated CO2
70.2 kg one way
Round trip: 140.4 kg / 310 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.79 $59.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.60 $67.20
Premium $4.65 $36.77 $73.53
Diesel $5.30 $41.90 $83.80

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Parkersburg and Council Bluffs. The current time is 09:19:27.

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.