Origin
Indiana, IA
Late night in Indiana on Wednesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Indiana, IA to Iowa City, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
2h 27m
Distance
118.4 mi
191 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 18m
★
6 AM
2h 28m
8 AM
2h 48m
10 AM
2h 35m
12 PM
2h 33m
3 PM
2h 36m
5 PM
2h 47m
8 PM
2h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Indiana, IA
Kelly
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Indiana, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 118.4 miles and takes about 2h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, State Highway 14, IA 5 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 79.3 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.51 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
59.2 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 19m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 2h 27m highway drive covering 118.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and State Highway 14. The longest continuous stretch is about 79.3 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 16 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 79.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 27m 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: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IA 5
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
8.1 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
IA 5
Take the ramp onto IA 5
Navigation decision point
3
9.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
116.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downtown
4
117.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 25m in
|
North Gilbert Street
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 79.3 mi | 1h 25m |
| State Highway 14 | 23.3 mi | 34m |
| IA 5 | 7.6 mi | 11m |
| South Lincoln Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| County Highway G76 | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Monroe Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 79.3 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indiana, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on CR G76
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G76
2
Continue on CR G76
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
County Highway G76
3
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 5
4
Take the ramp onto IA 5
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
IA 5
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
6
Turn right onto IA 14
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Lincoln Street
7
Continue on IA 14
13 mi
·
18 min
·
State Highway 14
8
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Monroe Street
9
Continue on IA 14
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 14
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
11
Merge onto I 80
79 mi
·
1 hr 25 min
·
I 80
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
13
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
14
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
15
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
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 59.2 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.2 miles or 1h 19m 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
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 Indiana, 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 Indiana, IA
This is one driving day of about 118.4 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Indiana, 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.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 79.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.2 mi from Indiana, IA · 1h 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 59.2 miles from Indiana, 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.
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
$18.51 one way
$37.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.32 | $40.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.79 | $45.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.14 | $52.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.5 | 0 | $12.43 | $5.68 |
| Efficient EV | 29.6 | 0 | $10.36 | $4.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 47.4 | 0 | $16.58 | $7.58 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Late night in Iowa City on Wednesday
Local time
5:40 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 15 mph
40% chance
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
11 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
2h 27m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Indiana, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 118.4 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, State Highway 14, IA 5. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.2 miles from Indiana, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.51 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 2h 27m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 8.1 miles (IA 5): Navigation decision point; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Indiana, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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