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Trip from Maquoketa, IA to Iowa City, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

1h 42m

Distance

86.4 mi

139 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 35m ★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 58m
10 AM
1h 48m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 49m
5 PM
1h 57m
8 PM
1h 38m

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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Downtown Maquoketa, IA, IA

Maquoketa, IA

Diego F. Parra

city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Maquoketa to Iowa City covers 86.4 miles, making it an efficient trek across the Iowa landscape. You should plan for a driving time of approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes, which is easily manageable as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick getaway. You will navigate via a combination of 200th Avenue, US 61, and IA 1. Since both ends of the trip reside within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel throughout the journey. It is a straightforward drive that offers enough variety to keep you engaged without requiring an overnight stay.

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

43.2 miles from Maquoketa, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads and state highways that demand your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches—the longest being 0 miles on 200th Avenue—the experience is consistently dynamic. This path prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the scenery and road conditions shift frequently as you transition between the various connecting routes.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 10 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 61 is the longest continuous segment at about 81.1 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

793 ft 666 ft

Total Climb

266 ft

Total Descent

304 ft

Highest Point

793 ft

~6.2 mi in

Elevation Range

127 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and North Dodge Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Maquoketa, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 42m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 83.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles (IA 1 / North Dodge Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

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

5
1.8 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the ramp toward US 61: Davenport

Navigation decision point

Toward US 61: Davenport
4
83.3 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Take the exit toward IA 1: Mount Vernon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
4
83.6 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in | IA 1 / North Dodge Street

Turn left onto IA 1 / North Dodge Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
85.7 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in | Church Street

Turn right onto Church Street

Navigation decision point

4
85.9 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | North Gilbert Street

Turn left onto North Gilbert Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 61 81.1 mi 1h 30m
North Dodge Street 2.1 mi 4m
South Main Street 1 mi 1m
200th Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
North Gilbert Street 0.5 mi 1m
Church Street 0.2 mi <1m
South Gilbert Street — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: US 61 — 81.1 mi, about 1h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Main Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
2

Continue on 200th Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · 200th Avenue
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward US 61: Davenport
4

Merge onto US 61

32 mi · 37 min · US 61
5

Take the exit onto US 61

49 mi · 53 min · US 61
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
7

Turn left onto IA 1

2.1 mi · 4 min · North Dodge Street
Use the straight lane.
8

Turn right onto Church Street

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Church Street
9

Turn left onto North Gilbert Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · North Gilbert Street
10

Arrive at destination

South Gilbert Street

Trip Plan

Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops, as the 86.4-mile distance is short enough to complete in one go. Keep in mind that since you are navigating local roads, your pace may be dictated by local traffic and turns rather than highway speed limits. Budgeting $13 for fuel should be sufficient, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Maquoketa. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be navigating intersections more often than on a typical interstate route.

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 43.2 miles from Maquoketa, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 19 miles or 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.2 miles or 51m 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 24m

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 Maquoketa, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Maquoketa, IA

This is one driving day of about 86.4 miles and 1h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Maquoketa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 61 for about 81.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 43.2 mi from Maquoketa, IA · 51m into the drive

Downtown Walcott, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Walcott, IA

43 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

Walcott, IA to Iowa City, IA

43.6 mi · 54m

Pacing Suggestions

De Witt, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Walcott, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.2 miles from Maquoketa, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 61 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.1 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.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.51 one way

$27.02 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.83 $29.66
premium $4.89 $16.63 $33.25
diesel $5.61 $19.08 $38.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.9 0 $9.07 $4.15
Efficient EV 21.6 0 $7.56 $3.46
EV Truck/SUV 34.6 0 $12.10 $5.53

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Maquoketa, IA

Afternoon in Maquoketa on Wednesday

Local time

3:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 5 to 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Iowa City, IA

Afternoon in Iowa City on Wednesday

Local time

3:56 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 5 to 10 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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 42m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Maquoketa, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 86.4 miles and takes about 1h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61, North Dodge Street, South Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.2 miles from Maquoketa, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Maquoketa, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 42m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 83.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles (IA 1 / North Dodge Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Maquoketa, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 666 ft to 793 ft elevation with about 266 ft of total climbing.

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