Origin
Manly, IA
Morning in Manly on Saturday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manly, IA to Iowa City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
174.2 mi
280 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 41m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Manly, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Manly, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 174.2 miles and takes about 3h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, Thrush Avenue, Leo P Rooff Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 133.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.23 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.1 miles from Manly, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 34m. Total distance: 174.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 34m drive with frequent turns across 174.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 133.8 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,201 ft
666 ft
Total Climb
58 ft
Total Descent
593 ft
Highest Point
1,201 ft
Elevation Range
535 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Broadway Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 174.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 9 / East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 95 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Broadway Street
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 9 / East South Street
Turn left onto IA 9 / East South Street
Navigation decision point
6
95 mi into trip
|
~2h in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
101.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 8m 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
5
166.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manly, IA and Iowa City, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Dubuque
95 mi in
|
~2h
|
via I 380
Cedar Falls
95 mi in
|
~2h
|
via I 380
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 133.8 mi | 2h 31m |
| Thrush Avenue | 11 mi | 18m |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| I 380 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 9 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Washington Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Broad Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 133.8 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manly, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on this road
264 ft
·
21 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
North Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto IA 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East South Street
4
Continue on IA 9
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 9
5
Turn right onto CR S56
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Thrush Avenue
6
Continue on CR S56
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
7
Continue on CR S56
8.9 mi
·
15 min
·
Thrush Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
9
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
11
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
12
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
15
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
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
18
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
20
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
21
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
22
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
23
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 87.1 miles from Manly, IA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 133.8 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 38 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.1 miles or 1h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
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 Manly, 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 Manly, IA
This is one driving day of about 174.2 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Manly, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 133.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 87.1 mi from Manly, IA · 1h 50m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.1 miles from Manly, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 133.8 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
$27.23 one way
$54.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.90 | $59.80 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.52 | $67.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.46 | $76.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.29 | $8.36 |
| Efficient EV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.24 | $6.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.39 | $11.15 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Iowa City, IA
Morning in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
87 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
27 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
3h 34m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Manly, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 174.2 miles and takes about 3h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Thrush Avenue, Leo P Rooff Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 87.1 miles from Manly, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.23 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 174.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 9 / East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 95 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Manly, IA and Iowa City, IA, road signs point toward Dubuque and Cedar Falls.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 666 ft to 1,201 ft elevation with about 58 ft of total climbing.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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