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

The driving distance from Waverly, IA to Council Bluffs, IA is about 251.5 miles (404.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 09m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 201.1 miles (323.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 19m 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
251.55 mi
04h 09m
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 Waverly.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
201.1 mi
Kilometers
323.64 km
Flight Time
00h 24m

Driving Distance

Road route
251.55 mi
Kilometers
404.83 km
Drive Time
04h 09m

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 09m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Council Bluffs
Wed, Apr 29, 6:51 PM CDT
Return by in Waverly
Wed, Apr 29, 11:01 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waverly
2026-04-29T14:41
Arrive Council Bluffs
Wed, Apr 29, 6:51 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 09m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:10 AM to 12:10 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
8:40 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waverly
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 Waverly
124.6 mi
02h 04m
To Council Bluffs
126.9 mi
02h 04m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
41°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 2:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph NW
Destination
40°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NNW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Bremer Avenue

    19 m · 10 sec · West Bremer Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 4th Street Southwest

    1.4 mi · 3 min · 4th Street Southwest

  3. 3

    Continue on 4th Avenue Southwest

    1.1 km · 1 min · 4th Avenue Southwest

  4. 4

    Keep slight left

    1.5 km · 2 min

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    12.8 mi · 15 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward University Avenue

    1165 ft · 28 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right

    102 m · 8 sec

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto University Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · University Avenue

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward University Avenue

    38 m · 3 sec · University Avenue

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto University Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · University Avenue

  11. 11

    Continue on Grundy Road

    1.2 km · 1 min · Grundy Road

  12. 12

    Take the ramp right

    2235 ft · 54 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    11.3 mi · 13 min

  14. 14

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

    2083 ft · 59 sec

  15. 15

    Turn left onto N Avenue

    4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 210th Street

  17. 17

    Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

    1 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

  18. 18

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn right onto 240th Street

    6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

    15.9 mi · 22 min · Sanford Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto 160th Street

    4.3 mi · 6 min · 160th Street

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North Main Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Marsh Avenue

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn right

    35.9 mi · 43 min

  25. 25

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

    13 mi · 16 min

  26. 26

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  28. 28

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

    19.1 mi · 20 min

  29. 29

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

    1648 ft · 31 sec

  30. 30

    Turn straight onto East Kanesville Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 5 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  31. 31

    Continue on East Broadway

    772 ft · 21 sec · East Broadway

  32. 32

    Continue on East Kanesville Boulevard

    1.4 km · 2 min · East Kanesville Boulevard

  33. 33

    Continue on West Broadway

    1993 ft · 51 sec · West Broadway

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Broadway

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waverly 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
34 steps
12 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
I 80 west
133 mi · 53%
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi · 6%
Avenue of the Saints
12.8 mi · 5%
Grundy Road
12.5 mi · 5%
240th Street
6.28 mi · 2%
Marsh Avenue
5.95 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 09m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.4 mi
201.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Urbandale
02h 04m from Waverly
Leave By
8:40 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

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

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 251.5 miles (404.8 km) and usually takes 04h 09m 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 124.6 miles from Waverly and 126.9 miles from Council Bluffs.

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 8:40 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 Chance Rain Showers around Waverly and Partly Cloudy near Council Bluffs.

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

Waverly

#1 Waverly

City in Bremer County, Iowa, United States

Population10,298
Coordinates42.7258100, -92.4754600
Altitude278
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: West Bremer Avenue (-92.475459, 42.725736)
End: West Broadway (-95.86083, 41.261939)

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 Waverly and Council Bluffs. The current time is 14:41:26.

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.