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 Cresco, IA
Drive Time
3h 6m
Distance
139.9 mi
225 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Iowa City, IA
Tom Fisk
Cresco, IA
DS stories
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Cresco, IA covers 139.9 miles and takes about 3h 6m 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 $21.25 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
69.9 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 6m drive with frequent turns across 139.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 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 Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 6m 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 Cresco, 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 |
| CR V65 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Benson Shady Grove Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 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 Cresco, 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
55 mi
·
1 hr
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit slight right toward CR V65: Jesup, La Porte City
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
CR V65: Jesup, La Porte City
10
Turn right onto South Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
11
Continue on Benson Shady Grove Avenue
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Benson Shady Grove Avenue
12
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Street
13
Turn right onto Main Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
14
Continue on Baxter Avenue
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Baxter Avenue
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Baxter Avenue
128 ft
·
3 sec
·
Baxter Avenue
16
Exit the roundabout onto Baxter Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Baxter Avenue
17
Continue on Walnut Street South
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Walnut Street South
18
Turn left onto Fairbank Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Fairbank Street
19
Continue on 102nd Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
102nd Street
20
Turn right onto North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
21
Continue on Y Avenue
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Y Avenue
22
Turn left onto 230th Street
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
230th Street
23
Turn right onto Viking Avenue
13 mi
·
18 min
·
Viking Avenue
24
Continue on Union Avenue
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Union Avenue
25
Continue on County Highway V56
436 ft
·
11 sec
·
County Highway V56
26
Turn right onto State Highway 24
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
State Highway 24
27
Turn left onto Union Avenue
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
Union Avenue
28
Turn right onto 100th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
100th Street
29
Turn left onto Willow Avenue
9.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Willow Avenue
30
Continue on 3rd Street Southwest
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Street Southwest
31
Continue on 3rd Street West
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street West
32
Turn right onto 8th Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
8th Avenue West
33
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 69.9 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 33m 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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.9 miles or 1h 33m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cresco, 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 139.9 miles and 3h 6m.
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 69.9 mi from Iowa City, IA · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 69.9 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Cresco, IA
The final approach into Cresco, 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 Cresco, 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
$21.25 one way
$42.50 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.42 | $46.85 |
| premium | $4.80 | $26.41 | $52.82 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $31.08 | $62.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42 | 0 | $14.69 | $6.72 |
| Efficient EV | 35 | 0 | $12.24 | $5.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56 | 0 | $19.59 | $8.95 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Destination
Cresco, IA
Afternoon in Cresco on Sunday
Local time
2:35 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
70 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
1 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 6m 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 Cresco, IA covers 139.9 miles and takes about 3h 6m 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 69.9 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 $21.25 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 Cresco, IA is easy. At 3h 6m 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 Cresco, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa City, IA to Cresco, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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