Origin
Corydon, IA
Morning in Corydon on Saturday
Local time
6:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 16m
Distance
151.2 mi
243 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Corydon, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
This 151.2-mile drive from Corydon, IA to Iowa City, IA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes. With a highway share of 94%, it's a predominantly interstate-focused journey. You'll spend most of your time on I-80, with some initial travel on State Highway 14 and South Lincoln Street. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $24. Given its relatively short duration and highway-centric profile, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. The Midwest regions offer a consistent driving experience throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.6 miles from Corydon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 151.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 151.2-mile route, with 94% of it being on major roadways like I-80. The initial segment will involve State Highway 14 and South Lincoln Street before merging onto the interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 79.3 miles on I-80, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency and speed, minimizing time spent navigating local roads. The transition to I-80 will likely feel like a significant shift to faster travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 14. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 2 / West Jefferson Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 16m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 14 / South Lafayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 14 / East Jackson Street): Navigation decision point.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto IA 14 / South Lafayette Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto IA 14 / East Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14; US 34 Business / South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 79.3 mi | 1h 25m |
| State Highway 14 | 63.1 mi | 1h 33m |
| South Lincoln Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| South 7th Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Monroe Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| North Washington Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Corydon, IA and Iowa City, IA.
Start on South Franklin Street
Turn right onto IA 2
Turn left onto IA 14
Turn left onto IA 14
Turn right onto IA 14
Continue on IA 14
Continue on IA 14
Turn straight onto IA 14; US 34 Business
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14; US 34 Business
Continue on IA 14
Continue on IA 14
Continue on IA 14
Continue on IA 14
Continue on IA 14
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
Turn left onto Kimball Road
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour and 16-minute drive, departing in the morning allows you to arrive in Iowa City with ample time for activities. While the route has only one recommended stop, the 79.3-mile stretch on I-80 means you might want to plan for a brief rest stop before or after this longer segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's a budget-friendly trip. Consider leaving Corydon slightly earlier than usual to take advantage of the open roads before potential midday traffic on I-80. The highway-focused nature of this trip means you can generally maintain a consistent speed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 33 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Corydon, 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 Corydon, IA
This is one driving day of about 151.2 miles and 3h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.6 mi from Corydon, IA · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
76 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.
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 75.6 miles from Corydon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 79.3 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$23.64 one way
$47.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.95 | $51.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $29.10 | $58.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.38 | $66.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.88 | $7.26 |
| Efficient EV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.23 | $6.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.5 | 0 | $21.17 | $9.68 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Corydon on Saturday
Local time
6:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
6:04 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
72°F
Newton, IA
76 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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