Origin
Iowa City, IA
Night in Iowa City on Thursday
Local time
10:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Independence, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
66.2 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Independence, IA
Roger Ce
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Independence, IA covers 66.2 miles and takes about 1h 24m 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 $10.35 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 66.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 24m drive with frequent turns across 66.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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.
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 Independence, IA is easy. At 1h 24m 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 Independence, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kimball Road | — | — |
| North Dubuque Street | — | — |
| I 380 | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| IA 150 | — | — |
| 31st Avenue | — | — |
| Jamestown Avenue | — | — |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Kimball Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Independence, 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
43 mi
·
48 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit slight right toward IA 150: Independence, Vinton
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
IA 150: Independence, Vinton
10
Turn right onto 31st Avenue
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
31st Avenue
11
Continue on Jamestown Avenue
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Jamestown Avenue
12
Continue on 3rd Avenue Southeast
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
13
Turn right onto 1st Street East
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
1st Street East
14
Turn right onto 5th Avenue Southeast
43 ft
·
2 sec
·
5th Avenue Southeast
15
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.1 mi from Iowa City, IA · 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.1 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Independence, IA
The final approach into Independence, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.35 one way
$20.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.36 | $22.73 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.74 | $25.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.62 | $29.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.95 | $3.18 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.79 | $2.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.27 | $4.24 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Independence, IA
Night in Independence on Thursday
Local time
10:22 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
1h 24m 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 Independence, IA covers 66.2 miles and takes about 1h 24m 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 33.1 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 $10.35 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 Independence, IA is easy. At 1h 24m 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 Independence, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Iowa City, IA to Independence, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Independence, IA
More trips to Independence, IA
Explore more options from Iowa City, IA or browse trips ending in Independence, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Iowa City, IA or Independence, IA on MapSof.net.