Origin
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
9:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Centerville, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
140.9 mi
227 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Centerville, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Centerville, IA covers 140.9 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Benton Street, South Riverside Drive, Highway 218 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.03 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
70.5 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 140.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 55m drive with frequent turns across 140.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Benton Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Centerville, IA is easy. At 2h 55m 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 Centerville, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Benton Street | — | — |
| South Riverside Drive | — | — |
| Highway 218 South | — | — |
| Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| US 34 | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| North 12th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Benton Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Centerville, IA.
1
Start on South Gilbert Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Gilbert Street
2
Turn right onto East Benton Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Benton Street
3
Turn left onto South Riverside Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Riverside Drive
4
Continue on Old Highway 218 South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Highway 218 South
5
Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
6
Take the ramp straight
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
7
Keep slight left
0.7 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
43 mi
·
49 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight right
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
10
Take the exit right
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
11
Merge slight left
46 mi
·
53 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 34
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 34
13
Turn left
2.3 mi
·
2 min
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
266 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
15
Exit the roundabout
18 mi
·
21 min
16
Turn right
25 mi
·
35 min
17
Turn right onto North 12th Street
367 ft
·
16 sec
·
North 12th Street
18
Continue on North 12th Street
466 ft
·
23 sec
·
North 12th Street
19
Turn right onto West Van Buren Street
361 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Van Buren Street
20
Turn right onto North 13th Street
190 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 13th Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.5 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 27m 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.5 miles or 1h 27m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Centerville, 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 140.9 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 70.5 mi from Iowa City, IA · 1h 27m 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.5 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Centerville, IA
The final approach into Centerville, 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 Centerville, 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
$22.03 one way
$44.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.19 | $48.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.11 | $54.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.11 | $62.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.79 | $6.76 |
| Efficient EV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.33 | $5.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.73 | $9.02 |
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
Centerville, IA
Morning in Centerville on Saturday
Local time
9:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Fairfield, 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
2h 55m 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 Centerville, IA covers 140.9 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Benton Street, South Riverside Drive, Highway 218 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.5 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 $22.03 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.
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 Centerville, IA is easy. At 2h 55m 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 Centerville, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa City, IA to Centerville, 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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