Origin
Muscatine, IA
Morning in Muscatine on Wednesday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Muscatine, IA to Iowa City, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
56m
Distance
35.9 mi
58 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Muscatine, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Muscatine, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 35.9 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 22, East Rainbow Drive, State Highway 70 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.4 miles on State Highway 22. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.61 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
18 miles from Muscatine, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 56m highway drive covering 35.9 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 22 and East Rainbow Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 9.4 miles on State Highway 22.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 22 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 22 and East Rainbow Drive. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East 5th Street.
Route Complexity
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Muscatine, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 56m with 63% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Cedar Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Cedar Street
Turn right onto Cedar Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
Cedar Street
Enter roundabout onto Cedar Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
3
18.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
IA 70 / South Columbus Street
Turn right onto IA 70 / South Columbus Street
Navigation decision point
3
34.8 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
South Gilbert Street
Turn right onto South Gilbert Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 22 | 9.4 mi | 13m |
| East Rainbow Drive | 7.9 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 70 | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| Highway 6 Southeast | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Highway 6 East | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Cedar Street | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| South Gilbert Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Columbus Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 22
— 9.4 mi, about 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Muscatine, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto East 5th Street
359 ft
·
11 sec
·
East 5th Street
3
Turn right onto Cedar Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Cedar Street
4
Enter roundabout onto Cedar Street
79 ft
·
1 sec
·
Cedar Street
5
Continue on Cedar Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Cedar Street
6
Continue on IA 22
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 22
7
Turn straight onto IA 70
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 70
8
Turn straight onto IA 70
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Park Avenue
9
Continue on IA 70
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
East A Street
10
Turn right onto IA 70
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Columbus Street
11
Continue on US 6
7.9 mi
·
10 min
·
East Rainbow Drive
12
Continue on US 6
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 6 Southeast
13
Continue on US 6
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Highway 6 East
14
Turn right onto South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
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 18 miles from Muscatine, IA, or about 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.4 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 35.9 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 46m
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 Muscatine, 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 Muscatine, IA
This is one driving day of about 35.9 miles and 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Muscatine, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 22 for about 9.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18 mi from Muscatine, IA · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Muscatine, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.61 one way
$11.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.16 | $12.32 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.91 | $13.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.93 | $15.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.77 | $1.72 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.14 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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 Wednesday
Local time
7:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
56m 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 Muscatine, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 35.9 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 22, East Rainbow Drive, State Highway 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18 miles from Muscatine, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.61 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 Muscatine, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 56m with 63% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Cedar Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles (Cedar Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from Muscatine, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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