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Council Bluffs is a city in Southwest Iowa on the eastern side of the Missouri River. It is known for its casinos and ties to the transcontinental railroad. It is sometimes called "Iowa's Leading Edge."

Understand

Get in

By plane

By car

Visitors from an easterly city, like Des Moines will continue west on I-80, or from the west through Omaha until crossing over the Missouri River. To the north and south are Sioux City and Kansas City, respectively, which connect to Council Bluffs via I-29/I-680 and I-29/US-59.

By bus

Omaha Metro operates the blue and yellow routes to Council Bluffs. These routes run from 19th street and Douglas in Downtown Omaha to downtown Council Bluffs, Iowa Western Community College, Mall of the Bluffs and Mid America Center. The westbound buses stop on Dodge street before going to the 16th street Mall and 19th street and Douglas in Omaha.

Get around

By bus

Omaha Metro has two routes that serve Council Bluffs: blue and yellow. The blue route stops at the Iowa Western Community College, Mall of the Bluffs. The Yellow route goes to the Mid America Center.

See

  • Lewis and Clark Monument, 29385 Monument Rd, +1 712 328-4650. A nice view of the Missouri River as well as mountain bike trail.

Do

Plenty to do for the gambler. Most of the casinos can be seen along I-80. Since the state of Nebraska doesn't allow gambling, Omaha dwellers cross the state border and do their gambling here.

Learn

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Go next

  • Loess Hills State Forest,40 mi north in Pisgah, offers a sort of oasis in the farmlands of Iowa. Camping and fishing are available. This is arguably the state's most interesting state park or forest.
  • Elk Horn is 50 mi east and the nation's largest rural Danish settlement from the prairie days. The Danish Windmill is a state treasure.
Routes through Council Bluffs
Sioux CityMissouri Valley  N  S  St. JosephKansas City
North PlatteOmaha  W  E  West Des MoinesDes Moines
HastingsOmaha  W  E  AtlanticDes Moines


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