Drive Time
6h
Distance
300.5 mi
484 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Le Mars, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 300.5 miles and takes about 6h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.64 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
150.2 miles from Le Mars, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 4m into the drive .
Expect a 6h drive with frequent turns across 300.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 300.5 miles you will encounter 15 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: at 0.3 miles (IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (County Road C66): Navigation decision point; at 34.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto County Road C66
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 165.9 mi | 3h 11m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 64.7 mi | 1h 11m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| Oyens Avenue | 7 mi | 9m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| County Road K64 | 5 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 3 | 4.7 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Le Mars, IA and Iowa City, IA.
Start on 1st Street Northeast
Turn left onto IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Continue on IA 3
Turn right onto County Road K64
Continue on Oyens Avenue
Turn left onto CR C60
Turn right onto County Road C66
Continue on 310th Street
Turn straight onto County Highway C66
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
Continue on C66
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
Continue on L21
Turn left onto US 20
Continue on US 20
Continue on US 20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
Turn left onto Kimball Road
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 80 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.2 miles or 3h 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 4h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, IA
This is one driving day of about 300.5 miles and 6h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150.2 mi from Le Mars, IA · 3h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 150.2 miles from Le Mars, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 165.9 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$45.64 one way
$91.29 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $50.32 | $100.63 |
| premium | $4.80 | $56.73 | $113.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $66.76 | $133.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90.1 | 1 | $31.55 | $14.42 |
| Efficient EV | 75.1 | 0 | $26.29 | $12.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120.2 | 1 | $42.07 | $19.23 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Le Mars on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
150 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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