Origin
Burlington, IA
Morning in Burlington on Wednesday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
78.3 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Burlington, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 78.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Central Avenue, US 34 West, US 218 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Burlington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 39m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 78.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
North Central Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Central Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 34 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 218 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 218 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Riverside Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
North Central Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Burlington, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Central Avenue
2
Continue on North Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Central Avenue
3
Take the ramp left toward US 34 West, IA 163 West
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 34 West, IA 163 West
4
Merge slight left
26 mi
·
30 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
6
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
44 mi
·
51 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit slight right toward Airport
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport
9
Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
10
Continue on Old Highway 218 South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Highway 218 South
11
Continue on South Riverside Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Riverside Drive
12
Turn right onto Highway 6 East
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 6 East
13
Turn left onto South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.2 miles from Burlington, IA, or about 39m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 78.3 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Burlington, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Burlington, IA
This is one driving day of about 78.3 miles and 1h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Burlington, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.2 mi from Burlington, IA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 78.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Burlington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Iowa City, IA
The final approach into Iowa City, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Iowa City, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.24 one way
$24.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.44 | $26.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.07 | $30.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.29 | $34.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
| Efficient EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.85 | $3.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.96 | $5.01 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Wednesday
Local time
7:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 18m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 78.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are North Central Avenue, US 34 West, US 218. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 miles from Burlington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 18m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Burlington, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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