Origin
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to West Burlington, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
75.8 mi
122 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Iowa City, IA to West Burlington, IA covers 75.8 miles and takes about 1h 35m 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 mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.85 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
37.9 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
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 East | — | — |
| Mount Pleasant Street | — | — |
| West Mount Pleasant 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 West Burlington, 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 left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
23 mi
·
26 min
·
US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
12
Take the exit slight right toward Mount Pleasant Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Mount Pleasant Street
13
Turn right onto West Mount Pleasant Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Mount Pleasant Street
14
Turn right onto Broadway Street
364 ft
·
18 sec
·
Broadway Street
15
Turn left onto East Wheeler Street
23 ft
·
1 sec
·
East Wheeler Street
16
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 37.9 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 47m 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.9 miles or 47m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Burlington, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Iowa City, IA
This is one driving day of about 75.8 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 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
38 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 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.9 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
$11.85 one way
$23.70 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $13.01 | $26.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.59 | $29.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.74 | $33.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.96 | $3.64 |
| Efficient EV | 19 | 0 | $6.63 | $3.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 30.3 | 0 | $10.61 | $4.85 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
West Burlington, IA
Afternoon in West Burlington on Saturday
Local time
2:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Winfield, IA
38 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 35m 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?
75.8 mi in 1h 35m 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.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: East Benton Street.
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 West Burlington, IA is easy. At 1h 35m 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 West Burlington, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Iowa City, IA to West Burlington, 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 West Burlington, 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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