This 86.8-mile drive from Fort Madison to Iowa City is a straightforward, one-day trip taking about 1 hour and 49 minutes. With a modest fuel cost of around $13, it's an economical option for a short excursion within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including Avenue O and IA 2, before joining the Avenue of the Saints. Given its manageable length and the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, it's best tackled in a single day without the need for an overnight stay. This journey offers a practical way to connect two points in Iowa without extensive highway time.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.4 miles from Fort Madison, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 86.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a "turn-heavy local drive" for most of this 86.8-mile journey. Only 11% of the route involves highways, meaning you'll be navigating a more intimate connection with the landscape. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68.8 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a period of more consistent travel. The road character shifts as you progress, moving from local thoroughfares to more expansive stretches, requiring your attention to be on a frequent basis due to the numerous turns.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 68.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
764 ft526 ft
Total Climb
248 ft
Total Descent
107 ft
Highest Point
764 ft
~68.2 mi in
Elevation Range
238 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Avenue I.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 49m drive. You will face about 10 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 (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 61 Business / 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 61 Business / Avenue L): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Avenue I
Turn right onto Avenue I
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|US 61 Business / 20th Street
Turn left onto US 61 Business / 20th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|US 61 Business / Avenue L
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business / Avenue L
Navigation decision point
4
38.2 mi into trip|~48m in|US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Airport
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fort Madison, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
82.4 mi in|~1h 39m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
68.8 mi
1h 19m
IA 2
8.3 mi
11m
Avenue O
2.1 mi
3m
Avenue L
1.3 mi
2m
South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi
2m
Avenue H
1 mi
1m
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
1m
South Riverside Drive
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 68.8 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Madison, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on this road
61 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Avenue I
139 ft·11 sec·Avenue I
3
Turn left onto US 61 Business
1.0 mi·1 min·Avenue H
4
Turn left onto US 61 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·20th Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 61 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·Avenue L
6
Continue on US 61 Business
0.3 mi·27 sec·Old Highway 61
7
Continue on US 61 Business
2.1 mi·3 min·Avenue O
8
Turn straight onto IA 2
8.3 mi·11 min·IA 2
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
10
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
25 mi·28 min·Avenue of the Saints
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27
44 mi·51 min·Avenue of the Saints
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward Airport
13
Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi·1 min·Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
14
Continue on Old Highway 218 South
0.6 mi·1 min·Old Highway 218 South
15
Continue on South Riverside Drive
0.7 mi·1 min·South Riverside Drive
16
Turn right onto US 6
0.4 mi·1 min·Highway 6 East
17
Turn left onto South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South Gilbert Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 49-minute duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You can depart anytime, but an early start will give you flexibility should you decide to linger at your destination or explore any unexpected points of interest along the way. With a fuel cost of approximately $13, you won't need to worry excessively about refueling stops. The "turn-heavy" nature of the drive means staying attentive to navigation is key; be sure your GPS is set up before you leave Fort Madison to smoothly transition between Avenue O, IA 2, and the Avenue of the Saints.
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 43.4 miles from Fort Madison, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.8 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.4 miles or 54m 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 29m
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 Fort Madison, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Madison, IA
This is one driving day of about 86.8 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Fort Madison, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 68.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.4 mi from Fort Madison, IA
· 54m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.57 one way
$27.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.90
$29.80
premium
$4.89
$16.70
$33.41
diesel
$5.61
$19.16
$38.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26
0
$9.11
$4.17
Efficient EV
21.7
0
$7.59
$3.47
EV Truck/SUV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.56
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fort Madison, IA
Late night
in Fort Madison on Saturday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
2:45 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Mount Pleasant, IA
43 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 49m 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 Fort Madison, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 86.8 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, IA 2, Avenue O. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.4 miles from Fort Madison, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.57 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 49m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Avenue I): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 61 Business / 20th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 61 Business / Avenue L): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Fort Madison, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 526 ft to 764 ft elevation with about 248 ft of total climbing.
