Origin
Guthrie Center, IA
Morning in Guthrie Center on Sunday
Local time
11:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Guthrie Center, IA to Iowa City, IA
Drive Time
3h 13m
Distance
159.6 mi
257 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Guthrie Center, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 159.6 miles and takes about 3h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, 240th Street, State Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115.4 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.24 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.8 miles from Guthrie Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 13m highway drive covering 159.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and 240th Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 115.4 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 115.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and 240th Street. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 38.3 miles in near IA 141 / Grimes Boulevard.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 159.6 miles you will encounter 9 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: at 38.3 miles (IA 141 / Grimes Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 40.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
38.3 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
IA 141 / Grimes Boulevard
Merge onto IA 141 / Grimes Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
40.9 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Dave...
5
41.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
I 80; I 35
Merge onto I 80; I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
4
157.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downtown
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Guthrie Center, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Davenport along the way.
Davenport
40.9 mi in
|
~1h
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 115.4 mi | 2h 5m |
| 240th Street | 21.4 mi | 29m |
| State Street | 7 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 44 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| West 1st Street | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Southeast Grimes Boulevard | 2 mi | 3m |
| West Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Sugar Grove Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 115.4 mi, about 2h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Guthrie Center, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on IA 44
7.0 mi
·
10 min
·
State Street
2
Continue on IA 44
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on IA 44
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 44
4
Continue on IA 44
16 mi
·
22 min
·
240th Street
5
Continue on IA 44
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Sugar Grove Avenue
6
Continue on IA 44
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
240th Street
7
Continue on IA 44
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West 1st Street
8
Continue on IA 44
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
10
Merge onto IA 141
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
11
Continue on IA 141
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on IA 141
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
13
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
14
Merge onto I 80; I 35
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the none lane.
15
Continue on I 35; I 80
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 35; I 80
Use the none lane.
16
Continue on I 80; I 35
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80; I 35
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
I 80
Use the slight left lane.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
19
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
20
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
21
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
22
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 79.8 miles from Guthrie Center, IA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.4 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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.8 miles or 1h 43m 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 38m
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 Guthrie Center, 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 Guthrie Center, IA
This is one driving day of about 159.6 miles and 3h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Guthrie Center, 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 I 80 for about 115.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.8 mi from Guthrie Center, IA · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.8 miles from Guthrie Center, 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 115.4 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.24 one way
$48.48 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.72 | $53.45 |
| premium | $4.80 | $30.13 | $60.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.46 | $70.92 |
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: 55.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.76 | $7.66 |
| Efficient EV | 39.9 | 0 | $13.96 | $6.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.8 | 0 | $22.34 | $10.21 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Morning in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
11:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Ankeny, IA
80 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 13m 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 Guthrie Center, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 159.6 miles and takes about 3h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, 240th Street, State Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.8 miles from Guthrie Center, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 159.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 38.3 miles (IA 141 / Grimes Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 40.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Guthrie Center, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Davenport along the way.
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