Origin
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Monday
Local time
7:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Rock Valley, IA
Drive Time
6h 48m
Distance
331.1 mi
533 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 37m
★
6 AM
6h 49m
8 AM
7h 12m
10 AM
6h 57m
12 PM
6h 54m
3 PM
6h 58m
5 PM
7h 11m
8 PM
6h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Rock Valley, IA covers 331.1 miles and takes about 6h 48m 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 $50.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
165.6 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 48m drive with frequent turns across 331.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 44 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Iowa City, IA to Rock Valley, 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 |
| Armstrong Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 20th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 7 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st 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 Rock Valley, 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
159 mi
·
3 hr 3 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Armstrong Avenue
11
Continue on 20th Avenue
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
20th Avenue
12
Turn left onto Highway 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 7
13
Continue on State Highway 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 7
14
Continue on 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
15
Continue on V Avenue
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
V Avenue
16
Turn left onto State Highway 3
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
State Highway 3
17
Turn straight onto 530th Street
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
530th Street
18
Turn right onto State Highway 3
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
19
Continue on 500th Street
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
500th Street
20
Continue on State Highway 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 3
21
Continue on 490th Street
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
490th Street
22
Turn right onto Ames Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Ames Avenue
23
Continue on D Avenue
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
D Avenue
24
Continue on Nettle Avenue
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Nettle Avenue
25
Turn left onto 460th Street
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
460th Street
26
Continue on Garfield Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Garfield Street
27
Continue on 460th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
460th Street
28
Turn right onto Log Avenue
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Log Avenue
29
Continue on County Road S
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
County Road S
30
Turn left onto Fir Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Fir Street
31
Continue on 6th Avenue South
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
6th Avenue South
32
Continue on Cedar Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Cedar Street
33
Keep slight left to continue on Birch Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Birch Street
34
Continue on 400th Street
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
400th Street
35
Turn right onto Jackson Avenue
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Jackson Avenue
36
Turn left onto 320th Street
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
320th Street
37
Continue on Black Forest Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Black Forest Road
38
Continue on 320th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
39
Continue straight
1.0 mi
·
1 min
40
Turn left onto 310th Street
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
310th Street
41
Continue on 10th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Street
42
Turn right onto 16th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
16th Avenue
43
Turn left onto 15th Street
30 ft
·
1 sec
·
15th Street
44
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.6 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 3h 24m 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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.6 miles or 3h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rock Valley, 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 331.1 miles and 6h 48m.
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 165.6 mi from Iowa City, IA · 3h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
166 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 165.6 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Rock Valley, IA
The final approach into Rock Valley, 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 Rock Valley, 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
$50.29 one way
$100.58 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $55.44 | $110.88 |
| premium | $4.80 | $62.50 | $125.01 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $73.56 | $147.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.3 | 1 | $34.77 | $15.89 |
| Efficient EV | 82.8 | 0 | $28.97 | $13.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.4 | 1 | $46.35 | $21.19 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Rock Valley, IA
Morning in Rock Valley on Monday
Local time
7:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
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
6h 48m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 Rock Valley, IA covers 331.1 miles and takes about 6h 48m 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 165.6 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 $50.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Iowa City, IA to Rock Valley, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa City, IA to Rock Valley, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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