If you are planning a trip from New Hampton to Iowa City, you are looking at a 122.7-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the drive to take approximately 2 hours and 3 minutes of focused time behind the wheel. Because the total mileage is relatively modest, this route works perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you likely won't need to book an overnight stay. Budget roughly $18 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Iowa locations. This is an ideal trek for travelers who prefer local roads over the predictability of the interstate system. Keep in mind that this route is designed for those who don't mind a bit of navigation, as there are no scheduled stops required.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from New Hampton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 120.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard highway cruise. You will spend your time navigating McCloud Avenue, 235th Street, and Franklin Street, as the route features 0% highway travel. Because you are sticking to local thoroughfares, there is no single long-distance stretch to zone out on; in fact, your longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on McCloud Avenue. This setup provides a much more tactile driving experience than you would find on a major expressway. Expect constant adjustments and a steady pace as you transition through the rural landscapes connecting these two communities.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 20 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 65.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near 235th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 120.6 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: at 3 miles (235th Street): Navigation decision point; at 39 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3 mi into trip|~5m in|235th Street
Turn right onto 235th Street
Navigation decision point
4
39 mi into trip|~50m in|Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
4
47 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
48 mi into trip|~1h 3m 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
112.9 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
65.3 mi
1h 12m
US 18
35.9 mi
44m
Dubuque Road
5.4 mi
7m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
McCloud Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Franklin Street
1.4 mi
2m
South Linn Avenue
1.1 mi
1m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 65.3 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Hampton, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on US 63 Business
1.1 mi·1 min·South Linn Avenue
2
Continue on US 63 Business
1.9 mi·3 min·McCloud Avenue
3
Turn right onto 235th Street
0.1 mi·19 sec·235th Street
4
Turn left onto US 18; US 63
36 mi·44 min·US 18; US 63
5
Turn left onto Franklin Street
1.4 mi·2 min·Franklin Street
6
Continue on Dubuque Road
5.4 mi·7 min·Dubuque Road
7
Turn slight right
197 ft·7 sec
8
Turn straight onto CR V49
0.4 mi·39 sec·South 3rd Street
9
Continue on CR V49
0.7 mi·1 min·South Raymond Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
11
Merge onto I 380; US 20; IA 27
0.7 mi·45 sec·Avenue of the Saints
12
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
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
15
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
17
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
18
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
19
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
20
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a two-hour drive without built-in stops, it offers you total flexibility in your departure schedule. We recommend leaving early in the day to ensure you reach Iowa City with plenty of time to spare, especially since local roads can be slower than major interstates. While there are no official stops on the itinerary, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out to ensure your $18 budget is sufficient for the full trip. Because the route relies entirely on local streets like 235th Street, double-check your GPS settings to ensure you are following the turn-heavy path correctly. Staying alert for frequent turns is the best way to keep your trip smooth and stress-free.
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 60.3 miles from New Hampton, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.3 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 17m 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 59m
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 New Hampton, 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 New Hampton, IA
This is one driving day of about 120.6 miles and 2h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from New Hampton, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 65.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.3 mi from New Hampton, IA
· 1h 17m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.85 one way
$37.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.70
$41.40
premium
$4.89
$23.21
$46.42
diesel
$5.61
$26.63
$53.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.55
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.88
$7.72
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
New Hampton, IA
Late night
in New Hampton on Saturday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
5:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
60 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
4 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
2h 29m 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 New Hampton, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 18, Dubuque Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.3 miles from New Hampton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.85 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 120.6 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: at 3 miles (235th Street): Navigation decision point; at 39 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 47 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from New Hampton, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
