Trip from Iowa City, IA to Clinton, IA

Drive Time

1h 46m

Distance

87.5 mi

141 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

Spanning 87.5 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Iowa City to Clinton is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 46 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel, making this an economical choice for a quick regional trip. The route stays entirely within the Midwest, moving across the state of Iowa via a mix of major corridors. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of the path allows for a stress-free travel experience. Planning for a one-day turnaround is highly recommended given the manageable duration.

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

43.7 miles from Iowa City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 75% of your time spent on major arteries like I-80, US-30, and North Brady Street. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 48.9 miles on I-80. While the interstate segments provide a fast and efficient pace, the transition to US-30 and local roads like North Brady Street shifts the feel of the drive as you approach Clinton. Expect a functional, high-speed experience rather than a winding backroad adventure. Navigating these primary roads ensures a predictable transit, keeping your focus on the road ahead as the landscape transitions through the heart of the state.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 14 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 48.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 30. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Church Street.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (IA 1 / North Governor Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Church Street

Turn right onto Church Street

Navigation decision point

4

0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | IA 1 / North Governor Street

Turn left onto IA 1 / North Governor Street

Navigation decision point

3

2.7 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5

52 mi into trip | ~1h in | US 61

Take the exit onto US 61 toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt

4

83.6 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | Manufacturing Drive

Turn left onto Manufacturing Drive

Navigation decision point

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Iowa City, IA to Clinton, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dewitt along the way.

Dewitt

52 mi in | ~1h | via US 61

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	48.9 mi	53m
US 30	16.2 mi	19m
North Brady Street	14.5 mi	16m
Manufacturing Drive	1.6 mi	2m
North Dodge Street	1.4 mi	2m
South Bluff Boulevard	1.4 mi	2m
2nd Avenue South	0.9 mi	2m
South Gilbert Street	0.5 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 48.9 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Clinton, IA.

1

Start on South Gilbert Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Gilbert Street

2

Turn right onto Church Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Church Street

3

Turn left onto IA 1

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Governor Street

4

Turn right onto IA 1

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Dodge Street

5

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 47 sec

6

Merge onto I 80

49 mi · 53 min · I 80

7

Take the exit onto US 61

0.3 mi · 42 sec · US 61

Toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt

8

Merge onto US 61

15 mi · 16 min · North Brady Street

9

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

10

Merge onto US 30

16 mi · 19 min · US 30

11

Turn left onto Manufacturing Drive

1.6 mi · 2 min · Manufacturing Drive

12

Continue on South Bluff Boulevard

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Bluff Boulevard

13

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South

0.9 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South

14

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue South

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving during off-peak hours will help you maintain consistent speeds on the highway. You won't need to plan for lengthy rest stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer 48.9-mile stretch of I-80 to avoid unnecessary detours. Because the route relies heavily on major highways, check traffic reports for I-80 specifically, as congestion can occasionally impact your total travel time. Use the $13 fuel estimate as a baseline for your budget, but consider filling up in Iowa City before you depart to ensure you have enough range for the entire 87.5-mile duration.

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 43.7 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 51m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.9 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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 43.7 miles or 51m 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 27m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, 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 87.5 miles and 1h 46m.

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.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 48.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 43.7 mi from Iowa City, IA · 51m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Peoria, IL

44 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rock Island, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.7 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Clinton, IA

The final approach into Clinton, 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 Clinton, 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

$13.29 one way

$26.58 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 31 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$14.65	$29.30
premium	$4.80	$16.52	$33.04
diesel	$5.64	$19.44	$38.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	26.3	$9.19	$4.20
Efficient EV	21.9	$7.66	$3.50
EV Truck/SUV	35	$12.25	$5.60

Gas CO2

31 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (68% 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Iowa City, IA

Afternoon in Iowa City on Sunday

Local time

2:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Clinton, IA

Afternoon in Clinton on Sunday

Local time

2:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

55°F

Peoria, IL

44 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

4 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

1h 46m 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 Clinton, IA covers 87.5 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, US 30, North Brady 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 43.7 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 $13.29 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 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (IA 1 / North Governor Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point.

On the drive from Iowa City, IA to Clinton, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dewitt along the way.