Origin
Riverside, IA
Night in Riverside on Wednesday
Local time
11:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Riverside, IA to Iowa City, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
22m
Distance
14.7 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverside, IA
Lorenza Magnaghi
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Riverside and Iowa City, this 14.7-mile trek is a straightforward option that takes roughly 22 minutes to complete. Because the trip is so brief, you can easily handle it as a simple day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 22, and South Gilbert Street. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is a highly economical way to traverse this corner of the Midwest. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this route provides a practical connection between two Iowa communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
7.3 miles from Riverside, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires you to stay alert through various transitions. While 14 miles of the trip are spent on highways, the personality of the road shifts significantly as you move from open stretches into local streets. You will experience your longest uninterrupted segment during the 8.2 miles spent on the Avenue of the Saints. The remaining portion of the journey involves navigating local roads, which keeps the drive feeling dynamic rather than monotonous. It is a functional route where the change in road types defines the overall pace of your travel.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West 1st Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Riverside, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Riverside, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West 1st Street | — | — |
| East Hickory Street | — | — |
| Highway 22 | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| Airport | — | — |
| Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast | — | — |
| Highway 218 South | — | — |
| South Riverside Drive | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West 1st Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverside, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on North Washburn Street
108 ft
·
10 sec
·
North Washburn Street
2
Turn left onto West 1st Street
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
West 1st Street
3
Continue on East Hickory Street
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Hickory Street
4
Continue on State Highway 22
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 22
5
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
6
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
8.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit slight right toward Airport
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport
8
Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
9
Continue on Old Highway 218 South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Highway 218 South
10
Continue on South Riverside Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Riverside Drive
11
Turn right onto Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
12
Turn left onto South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
13
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Given the short 22-minute duration, you have total flexibility in your departure time, as there is no need to worry about long-distance fatigue or complex stop planning. Since the trip requires zero planned stops, you can easily adjust your schedule to avoid peak traffic hours on local roads if you prefer a smoother arrival. Keep your fuel budget at around $2 to ensure you are covered for the trip. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to pay close attention to your navigation as you transition from the Avenue of the Saints onto South Gilbert Street, as the shift from highway driving to local surface roads happens quickly.
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 7.3 miles from Riverside, IA, or about 11m into the drive.
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 14.7 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 7.3 miles or 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Riverside, IA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Riverside, IA
This is one driving day of about 14.7 miles and 22m.
At 14.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 7.3 mi from Riverside, IA · 11m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 14.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 7.3 miles from Riverside, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Iowa City, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Iowa City, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.30 one way
$4.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.52 | $5.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.83 | $5.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.25 | $6.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Night in Iowa City on Wednesday
Local time
11:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
22m 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 Riverside, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 14.7 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West 1st Street, East Hickory Street, Highway 22. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.3 miles from Riverside, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.30 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 Riverside, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 22m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Riverside, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Riverside, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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