Origin
Eagle Grove, IA
Afternoon in Eagle Grove on Saturday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Eagle Grove, IA to Iowa City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
177.5 mi
286 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eagle Grove, IA
Tom Fisk
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Eagle Grove, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 177.5 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, Avenue of the Saints, Stagecoach Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 88.9 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.75 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88.8 miles from Eagle Grove, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 88.9 mi | 1h 42m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 64.7 mi | 1h 11m |
| Stagecoach Road | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| State Highway 17 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| South Commercial Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 88.9 mi, about 1h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Grove, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on West Broadway Street
30 ft
·
8 sec
·
West Broadway Street
2
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Commercial Avenue
3
Continue on IA 17
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 17
4
Continue on IA 17
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Stagecoach Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
220th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 17
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Stagecoach Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward US 20 East
8
Merge onto US 20
89 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
US 20
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
65 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
12
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
14
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
15
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
16
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
17
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.8 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.9 miles.
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 39 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.8 miles or 1h 48m 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 51m
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 Eagle Grove, 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 Eagle Grove, IA
This is one driving day of about 177.5 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Eagle Grove, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 88.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.8 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 169.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Commercial Avenue
Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
13.5 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
5
15.6 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
104.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
169.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.75 one way
$55.50 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.47 | $60.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.16 | $68.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.19 | $78.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.3 | 0 | $18.64 | $8.52 |
| Efficient EV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.53 | $7.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71 | 0 | $24.85 | $11.36 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
1:18 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
89 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 32m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
177.5 mi in 3h 32m — 56% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: US 20.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.9 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South Commercial Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 177.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Commercial Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 177.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.9 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Iowa City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South Commercial Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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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