This page delivers traffic analytics for O'Brien County, Iowa. Our metrics are calculated with multi-sourced, cross-verified data from real-world mobile and sensor networks, and averaged for O'Brien County, Iowa among 302 road miles divided in 2,666 segments. Our metrics go beyond simple volume counts to provide actionable insights on traffic intensity, congestion, commercial vehicle flow, and network performance with highest possible granularity (average segment length is 598 ft). Whether you are evaluating a new retail location, planning logistics routes, or assessing infrastructure needs, this data helps you move from assumptions to certainty.
Data sourced from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform.
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
1,346
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
8.9%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
37.8 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
6.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$74,177
Our data indicates an estimated average traffic volume of 1,346 vehicles per day in O'Brien County, Iowa that results in 318,716 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈116 million per year). The traffic stream is comprised of an average of 1 truck for every 11 vehicles. Typical time spent behind the wheel per trip is 37.8 minutes, which already accounts for delays at signals, intersections, and congestion.
Analytical insight
When compared to the Iowa state averages: O'Brien's average daily traffic volume is 56% lower than the state average - 1,346 vehicles per day against 3,042 - suggesting less traffic load per road, a critical factor for logistics and site planning. In total volume terms, its road network carries 318,716 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈116 million per year), about 0.4% of Iowa's statewide total. The average trip takes 37.8 minutes, 15% higher than the state level. At 41% lower than the state level, the 6.8% congestion ratio signals smoother traffic flow - crucial for traffic control improvement and logistics planning. 28% of counties in Iowa see less traffic than O'Brien's 1,346 vehicles per day. Its average travel time of 37.8 minutes is longer than 87% of counties in Iowa.
Highway vs. Non-Highway Traffic Analysis
Highway Traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
2,117
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
13.9%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
53.1 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
4.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
47.8 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$81,615
A significant volume of traffic in O'Brien County, Iowa utilizes the highway network. The average highway carries 2,117 vehicles per day, 59% more than the average non-highway road in the same area, which carries 1,328 vehicles per day. That average covers 17 highway road miles divided in 60 segments (average segment length 1,522 ft), together carrying 36,998 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈13.5 million per year). Trucks constitute 13.9% of highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Highway truck concentration here runs 14% lower than the state average, at 13.9% - positioning O'Brien as a primarily local traffic hub. For logistics operators, this validates the importance of local access. 43% of counties in Iowa see a lower highway truck share than O'Brien's 13.9%. By raw volume, O'Brien carries the lowest number of highway trucks in Iowa - roughly 297 trucks per day.
Non-highway traffic
Traffic
Traffic
The average number of vehicles that travel each day over any road in the road network.
1,328
Trucks
Trucks
The percentage of the total traffic volume composed of heavy vehicles.
8.3%
Average travel time
Average travel time
The average time of travel averaged among all vehicles traveling on the road network.
37.5 min
Congestion ratio
Congestion ratio
The rate at which the actual travel time exceeds free-flow travel time, averaged among all roads in the network.
6.8%
Drivers’ average age
Drivers’ average age
Average age of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
48.2 yrs
Drivers’ average income
Drivers’ average income
Average income of residents in the geographic areas where the vehicle trips originated.
$73,662
The non-highway road network in O'Brien County, Iowa supports a substantial volume of traffic. The average non-highway road carries 1,328 vehicles per day, 37% less than the average highway in the same area, which carries 2,117 vehicles per day. That average covers 285 non-highway road miles divided in 2,606 segments (average segment length 577 ft), together carrying 281,718 vehicle-miles traveled per day (≈103 million per year). Trucks constitute 8.3% of non-highway traffic.
Analytical insight
Non-highway roads carry a truck concentration that's 40% lower than the highway network. At 39% lower than the state level, the non-highway congestion ratio of 6.8% signals easier movement on local roads. O'Brien's overall average travel time exceeds 87% of counties in Iowa. Trip origins here have higher average income than 57% of counties in Iowa. O'Brien's median driver age is higher than 29% of counties in Iowa.
Time-of-Day & Seasonal Patterns
Peak Traffic Windows
Weekday peaks:
AM peak 7:00 AM–12:00 PM and PM peak 3:00 PM–7:00 PM, with volumes reaching approximately 75% higher than the daily average.
Weekend traffic:
Weekend volumes run about 33% below weekday levels.
Seasonal Fluctuation
Busy season:
August–October is the high season, with volumes +17% versus the annual average.
Lowest month:
January is the quietest month, with volumes -22% versus the annual average.
Analytical insight
In O'Brien County, Iowa, the peak hour concentrates about 7% of the day's traffic, and seasonal swing is pronounced at +17% in high season.
Traffic Flow Profile Comparison
Metric
O'Brien
Iowa
Average
Difference
Traffic
1,346
3,042
-55.7%
Truck % (Total Traffic)
8.9%
11.0%
-18.9%
Truck % (Highway)
13.9%
16.1%
-13.7%
Avg. Travel Time
37.8 min
33.0 min
+14.6%
Frequently Asked Questions
The average daily traffic volume is calculated at 1,346 vehicles per day, providing a baseline for daily operations and site assessment.
Yes - O'Brien carries the lowest raw volume of highway trucks of any county in Iowa, at roughly 297 trucks per day.
Approximately 65% of highway traffic and 16% of non-highway traffic consists of vehicles whose trip originates outside O'Brien County, Iowa. This indicates that a portion of highway traffic is regional pass-through, while local roads are more representative of resident and commuter activity.
Weekday peaks occur between 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM in the morning and between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM in the evening - about 75% above the daily average.
The average travel time for drivers is 37.8 minutes, offering a standard metric for commute and delivery route planning.
Trucks account for approximately 8.9% of the total traffic mix across all road types, with a significantly higher concentration of 13.9% on highways.
Traffic volumes are typically 17% higher during August–October. Volumes drop to their lowest levels in January, averaging 1,052 vehicles per day - a 22% decrease from the annual average.
Drivers on O'Brien roads have a median age of 48 years, and the median household income of the neighborhoods trips originate from averages $74,177 - useful context for retail siting and customer profiling.
Data Sources & Methodology
The data presented on this page is derived from TrafficZoom's proprietary analytics platform, which aggregates and normalizes information from multiple sources, including:
Mobile device location data (anonymized and aggregated)
