Trip from Laurens, IA to Iowa City, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 45m

Distance

236.8 mi

381 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

4h 32m ★

6 AM

4h 45m

8 AM

5h 12m

10 AM

4h 55m

12 PM

4h 52m

3 PM

4h 56m

5 PM

5h 11m

8 PM

4h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Laurens, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Laurens, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 236.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 20, Avenue of the Saints, 220th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.2 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.02 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

118.4 miles from Laurens, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 236.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Drive Character

The drive from Laurens, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 236.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 128.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 3rd Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 236.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.3 miles (IA 4 / 220th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 35.6 miles: Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | South 3rd Street

Turn right onto South 3rd Street

Navigation decision point

9.3 mi into trip | ~13m in | IA 4 / 220th Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto IA 4 / 220th Avenue

Navigation decision point

35.6 mi into trip | ~50m in

Take the ramp toward US 20 East

Navigation decision point

Toward US 20 East

164.2 mi into trip | ~3h 19m in | I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

229.1 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 80 East: Davenport

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 20	128.2 mi	2h 27m
Avenue of the Saints	64.7 mi	1h 11m
220th Avenue	16.9 mi	23m
450th Street	6.1 mi	8m
Marengo Avenue	4.8 mi	6m
I 80	4.2 mi	4m
Marshall Avenue	2.3 mi	3m
Cummins Road	2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: US 20 — 128.2 mi, about 2h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Laurens, IA and Iowa City, IA.

Start on West Main Street

125 ft · 7 sec · West Main Street

Turn right onto South 3rd Street

0.3 mi · 39 sec · South 3rd Street

Turn left onto IA 10

0.9 mi · 1 min · State Highway 10

Continue on IA 10

6.1 mi · 8 min · 450th Street

Continue on IA 10

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cummins Road

At end of road, turn right onto IA 4

5.5 mi · 7 min · 220th Avenue

Continue on IA 4

1.6 mi · 3 min · Northwest 7th Street

Continue on IA 4

11 mi · 15 min · 220th Avenue

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Marengo Avenue

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

0.7 mi · 1 min · North East Street

Continue on IA 4; IA 7

4.3 mi · 5 min · Marengo Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 4

2.3 mi · 3 min · Marshall Avenue

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 47 sec

Toward US 20 East

Merge onto US 20

128 mi · 2 hr 27 min · US 20

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27

65 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Avenue of the Saints

Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 80

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min

Toward I 80 East: Davenport

Merge onto I 80

4.2 mi · 4 min · I 80

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward Downtown

Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Dubuque Street

Turn left onto Kimball Road

477 ft · 21 sec · Kimball Road

Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Gilbert Street

Arrive at destination

South Gilbert Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 118.4 miles from Laurens, IA, or about 2h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.2 miles.

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 52 miles or 1h 10m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 118.4 miles or 2h 26m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Laurens, 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 Laurens, IA

This is one driving day of about 236.8 miles and 4h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Laurens, 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.

The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 128.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 118.4 mi from Laurens, IA · 2h 26m into the drive

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterloo, IA

118 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.

Popular next leg

Waterloo, IA to Iowa City, IA

81.9 mi · 1h 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Fort Dodge, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Falls, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 118.4 miles from Laurens, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 128.2 miles.

Arriving in Iowa City, IA

The final approach into Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.02 one way

$74.04 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$40.65	$81.30
premium	$4.89	$45.57	$91.14
diesel	$5.61	$52.28	$104.56

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	71	0	$24.86	$11.37
Efficient EV	59.2	0	$20.72	$9.47
EV Truck/SUV	94.7	1	$33.15	$15.16

Gas CO2

83 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Laurens, IA

Afternoon in Laurens on Thursday

Local time

2:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Iowa City, IA

Afternoon in Iowa City on Thursday

Local time

2:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

68°F

Waterloo, IA

118 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

4h 45m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Laurens, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 236.8 miles and takes about 4h 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 20, Avenue of the Saints, 220th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 118.4 miles from Laurens, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.