Origin
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
176.8 mi
285 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Iowa City, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA covers 176.8 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Kimball Road, North Dubuque Street, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.85 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
88.4 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 33m drive with frequent turns across 176.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kimball Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kimball Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Dubuque Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 380 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 69 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Little Wall Lake Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 220th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Kimball Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Belmond, IA.
1
Start on South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
2
Turn slight left onto Kimball Road
476 ft
·
22 sec
·
Kimball Road
3
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
North Dubuque Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
5
Merge slight left
4.1 mi
·
4 min
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
71 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
70 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 69
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 69
11
Turn right onto Little Wall Lake Road
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Little Wall Lake Road
12
Turn right onto 220th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
220th Street
13
Turn straight
8.0 mi
·
11 min
14
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
East Main Street
15
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast
62 ft
·
3 sec
·
2nd Avenue Northeast
16
Arrive at your destination
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 88.4 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
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 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmond, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA
This is one driving day of about 176.8 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Iowa City, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.4 mi from Iowa City, IA · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 88.4 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Belmond, IA
The final approach into Belmond, 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 Belmond, 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
$26.85 one way
$53.71 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $29.60 | $59.21 |
| premium | $4.80 | $33.38 | $66.75 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $39.28 | $78.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53 | 0 | $18.56 | $8.49 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.47 | $7.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.7 | 0 | $24.75 | $11.32 |
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
Belmond, IA
Afternoon in Belmond on Sunday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
88 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
28 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 33m 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 Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA covers 176.8 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kimball Road, North Dubuque Street, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.4 miles from Iowa City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.85 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.
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa City, IA to Belmond, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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