Origin
Orange City, IA
Late night in Orange City on Wednesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Orange City, IA to Iowa City, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
6h 11m
Distance
309 mi
497 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 59m
★
6 AM
6h 11m
8 AM
6h 37m
10 AM
6h 20m
12 PM
6h 18m
3 PM
6h 22m
5 PM
6h 36m
8 PM
6h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Orange City, IA
Levent Simsek
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Orange City, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 309 miles and takes about 6h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
154.5 miles from Orange City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 11m drive with frequent turns across 309 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 165.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Albany Avenue.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 309 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Albany Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 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
|
Albany Avenue
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast
Turn left onto IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
43.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
236.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 45m 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
301.3 mi into trip
|
~5h 57m 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 165.9 mi | 3h 11m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 64.7 mi | 1h 11m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Kiwi Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orange City, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northwest
430 ft
·
25 sec
·
2nd Street Northwest
2
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Avenue
3
Turn left onto IA 10
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
8th Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Street
5
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
79 ft
·
4 sec
·
450th Street
6
Continue on 450th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
450th Street
7
Turn right onto IA 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kennedy Avenue
8
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 10
9
Continue on IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
10
Turn right onto L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
11
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
12
Continue on IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
13
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
14
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
15
Continue on L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
18
Continue on US 20
166 mi
·
3 hr 11 min
·
220th Street
19
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
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
21
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
22
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
24
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
25
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
26
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
27
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 154.5 miles from Orange City, IA, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 80 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.5 miles or 3h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 4m
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 Orange City, 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 Orange City, IA
This is one driving day of about 309 miles and 6h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Orange City, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 154.5 mi from Orange City, IA · 3h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 154.5 miles from Orange City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 165.9 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
$48.31 one way
$96.62 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
108 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $53.04 | $106.08 |
| premium | $4.89 | $59.46 | $118.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.22 | $136.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 92.7 | 1 | $32.45 | $14.83 |
| Efficient EV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.04 | $12.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 123.6 | 1 | $43.26 | $19.78 |
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Late night in Iowa City on Wednesday
Local time
5:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 10 to 15 mph
12% chance
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
155 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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 11m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Orange City, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 309 miles and takes about 6h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 154.5 miles from Orange City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 309 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Albany Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Orange City, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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