Origin
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Anamosa, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
36.8 mi
59 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Anamosa, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Anamosa, IA covers 36.8 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 1, Highway 1 Northeast, County Road E34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 15.7 miles on State Highway 1. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.75 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 36.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 56m highway drive covering 36.8 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 1 and Highway 1 Northeast. The longest continuous stretch is about 15.7 miles on State Highway 1.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 1 is the longest continuous segment at about 15.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 1 and Highway 1 Northeast. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Church Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Anamosa, IA is easy. At 56m with 72% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 20.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 7 key pointsThese 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
5
20.7 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
36.1 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Cemetery Road
Turn left onto Cemetery Road
Navigation decision point
4
36.1 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
CR E34 / South Elm Street
Turn right onto CR E34 / South Elm Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 1 | 15.7 mi | 21m |
| Highway 1 Northeast | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| County Road E34 | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| North Dodge Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| 1st Avenue South | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| South Market Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| South Gilbert Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Governor Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 1
— 15.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Anamosa, 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
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Dodge Street
5
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
6
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Market Street
7
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
8
Continue on IA 1
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 1
9
Enter roundabout onto IA 1
132 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 1
10
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
State Highway 1
11
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue South
12
Continue on IA 1
10 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 1
13
Continue on CR E34
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road E34
14
Continue on CR E34
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
Elm Street
15
Turn left onto Cemetery Road
41 ft
·
2 sec
·
Cemetery Road
16
Turn right onto CR E34
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Elm Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto CR E28
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
West Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
CR E28
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from Iowa City, IA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Anamosa, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Anamosa, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.75 one way
$11.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.32 | $12.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.08 | $14.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.12 | $16.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11 | 0 | $3.86 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.22 | $1.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.7 | 0 | $5.15 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Anamosa, IA
Morning in Anamosa on Saturday
Local time
6:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Solon, IA
18 mi in
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
25 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
56m 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 Anamosa, IA covers 36.8 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 1, Highway 1 Northeast, County Road E34. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 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 $5.75 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.
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Anamosa, IA is easy. At 56m with 72% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 20.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Iowa City, IA to Anamosa, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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