Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
137.5 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Madrid, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 137.5 miles and takes about 2h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Kennedy Avenue, Highway 17, Y Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.88 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.7 miles from Madrid, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Expect a 2h 15m drive with frequent turns across 137.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Madrid, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 2h 15m 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 Madrid, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Kennedy Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 17 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Y Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Madrid Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South 3rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Polk City Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest 35th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Madrid, IA and Iowa City, IA.
Start on East 1st Street
Turn right onto South Kennedy Avenue
Continue on State Highway 17
Continue on Y Avenue
Turn left onto Northwest Madrid Drive
Continue on North Broadway Street
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
Continue on Northwest Polk City Drive
Continue on Northwest 35th Street
Continue on Northwest 78th Avenue
Continue on Southwest Oralabor Road
Turn right onto Southwest State Street
Continue on Northwest 2nd Street
Turn left onto I-35 north, I-80 east
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
Turn left onto Kimball Road
Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.7 miles or 1h 7m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Madrid, 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 Madrid, IA
This is one driving day of about 137.5 miles and 2h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.7 mi from Madrid, IA · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 68.7 miles from Madrid, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$20.88 one way
$41.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.02 | $46.05 |
| premium | $4.80 | $25.96 | $51.91 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $30.55 | $61.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.3 | 0 | $14.44 | $6.60 |
| Efficient EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.03 | $5.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55 | 0 | $19.25 | $8.80 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Madrid on Sunday
Local time
10:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
10:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Ankeny, IA
69 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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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