Origin
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
12:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Tripoli, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 8m
Distance
100.3 mi
161 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 59m
★
6 AM
2h 8m
8 AM
2h 27m
10 AM
2h 15m
12 PM
2h 13m
3 PM
2h 16m
5 PM
2h 26m
8 PM
2h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Tripoli, IA
Agung Pandit Wiguna
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Tripoli, IA covers 100.3 miles and takes about 2h 8m 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 mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.68 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.
Midpoint
50.1 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Kimball Road | — | — |
| North Dubuque Street | — | — |
| I 380 | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| South Raymond Road | — | — |
| South 3rd Street | — | — |
| Lafayette Road | — | — |
| North 3rd Street | — | — |
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 Tripoli, 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
66 mi
·
1 hr 12 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
10
Turn right onto South Raymond Road
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Raymond Road
11
Continue on South 3rd Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South 3rd Street
12
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lafayette Road
161 ft
·
9 sec
·
Lafayette Road
13
Turn left onto North 3rd Street
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
North 3rd Street
14
Continue on South Raymond Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Raymond Road
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward North Raymond Road
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Raymond Road
16
Exit the roundabout onto North Raymond Road
10.0 mi
·
15 min
·
North Raymond Road
17
Continue on Reed Avenue
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Reed Avenue
18
Turn left onto 230th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
230th Street
19
Turn right onto Piedmont Avenue
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Piedmont Avenue
20
Continue on South Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.1 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 4m 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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.1 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tripoli, 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 100.3 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 50.1 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.68 one way
$31.36 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.22 | $34.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $19.30 | $38.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.14 | $44.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.53 | $4.81 |
| Efficient EV | 25.1 | 0 | $8.78 | $4.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.1 | 0 | $14.04 | $6.42 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Tripoli, IA
Afternoon in Tripoli on Saturday
Local time
12:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°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
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
2h 8m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
100.3 mi in 2h 8m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Kimball Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Tripoli, IA is easy. At 2h 8m 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 Tripoli, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 100.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Iowa City, IA to Tripoli, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tripoli, IA before heading back.
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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