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

The driving distance from Sumner, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is about 276.8 miles (445.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 222.2 miles (357.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 13m 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
276.85 mi
04h 36m
Flight
222.21 mi
357.62 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sumner.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
222.21 mi
Kilometers
357.62 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
276.85 mi
Kilometers
445.54 km
Drive Time
04h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Council Bluffs
Wed, Apr 15, 3:45 PM CDT
Return by in Sumner
Wed, Apr 15, 8:22 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sumner
2026-04-15T11:08
Arrive Council Bluffs
Wed, Apr 15, 3:45 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 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
7:46 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sumner
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 Sumner
136.8 mi
02h 18m
To Council Bluffs
140.1 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
54°F
Overnight

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 mph N
Destination
57°F
Overnight

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph ENE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on East 1st Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · East 1st Street

  2. 2

    Continue on 140th Street

    6.2 mi · 9 min · 140th Street

  3. 3

    Keep slight left to continue on Piedmont Avenue

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Piedmont Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on North Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto 7th Avenue Southwest

    2681 ft · 45 sec · 7th Avenue Southwest

  6. 6

    Continue on 170th Street

    3.5 mi · 5 min · 170th Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Larrabee Avenue

    11.3 mi · 13 min · Larrabee Avenue

  8. 8

    Continue on Logan Avenue

    6.9 mi · 9 min · Logan Avenue

  9. 9

    Turn right onto West Airline Highway

    3 mi · 5 min · West Airline Highway

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Airport Boulevard

    786 ft · 21 sec · Airport Boulevard

  11. 11

    Take the ramp right toward US 218 north

    2788 ft · 1 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway

    3116 ft · 41 sec · Leo P Rooff Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right

    1309 ft · 32 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI

    1 mi · 2 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Avenue of the Saints

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward University Avenue

    1165 ft · 28 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight right

    102 m · 8 sec

  18. 18

    Turn straight onto University Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · University Avenue

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue

    38 m · 3 sec · University Avenue

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · University Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on Grundy Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Grundy Road

  22. 22

    Take the ramp right

    2235 ft · 54 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 13 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

    2083 ft · 57 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  27. 27

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  28. 28

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  31. 31

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  32. 32

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  33. 33

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  34. 34

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  35. 35

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

    13 mi · 16 min

  36. 36

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  37. 37

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  38. 38

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

    19.1 mi · 20 min

  39. 39

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

    1648 ft · 31 sec

  40. 40

    Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  41. 41

    Continue on East Broadway

    772 ft · 21 sec · East Broadway

  42. 42

    Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  43. 43

    Continue on West Broadway

    1993 ft · 51 sec · West Broadway

  44. 44

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway

Car Route Details

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

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
44 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
3 merges, 9 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
133 mi · 48%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 6%
Grundy Road
12.5 mi · 5%
Larrabee Avenue
11.3 mi · 4%
Logan Avenue
6.91 mi · 2%
240th Street
6.28 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
04h 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.6 mi
222.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Altoona
02h 18m from Sumner
Leave By
7:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Sumner and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Council Bluffs.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 276.8 miles (445.5 km) and usually takes 04h 36m 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 136.8 miles from Sumner and 140.1 miles from Council Bluffs.

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

The direct path is about 222.2 miles (357.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.6 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 7:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.84 one way or $73.69 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Sumner and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Council Bluffs.

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 Sumner and Council Bluffs. Straight-line distance: 222.21 mi (357.62 km).

Sumner

#1 Sumner

City in Bremer County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,965
Coordinates42.8474800, -92.0915600
Altitude323
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: East 1st Street (-92.091508, 42.847475)
End: West Broadway (-95.86083, 41.261939)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 446 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 55m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.77 gal
36.98 L · about $36.84
Round trip
$73.69
19.54 gal · 73.96 L
Estimated CO2
86.8 kg one way
Round trip: 173.7 kg / 383 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.84 $73.69
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.55 $83.10
Premium $4.65 $45.47 $90.94
Diesel $5.30 $51.82 $103.64

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Sumner and Council Bluffs. The current time is 11:08:26.

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.