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Trip from Rock Valley, IA to Iowa City, IA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

6h 48m

Distance

331.1 mi

533 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 37m ★
6 AM
6h 49m
8 AM
7h 12m
10 AM
6h 57m
12 PM
6h 55m
3 PM
6h 58m
5 PM
7h 11m
8 PM
6h 42m

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 Rock Valley, IA, IA

Rock Valley, IA

Roberto Lee Cortes

city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Rock Valley, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 331.1 miles and takes about 6h 48m 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, 20th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 164.9 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.76 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

165.6 miles from Rock Valley, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 35m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a 6h 48m drive with frequent turns across 331.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 43 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 164.9 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 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in near US 18 / 320th Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 331.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 7.3 miles (US 18 / 320th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles (L22 / County Road S): Navigation decision point; at 40.4 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

5
7.3 mi into trip | ~11m in | US 18 / 320th Street

Turn left onto US 18 / 320th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
29.3 mi into trip | ~42m in | L22 / County Road S

Turn right onto L22 / County Road S

Navigation decision point

6
40.4 mi into trip | ~58m in | IA 143 / Nettle Avenue

Turn right onto IA 143 / Nettle Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
258.5 mi into trip | ~5h 22m 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
323.4 mi into trip | ~6h 35m 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 164.9 mi 3h 10m
Avenue of the Saints 64.7 mi 1h 11m
20th Avenue 9.2 mi 12m
State Highway 3 8.6 mi 11m
Jackson Avenue 8 mi 11m
400th Street 7.5 mi 10m
Armstrong Avenue 6 mi 8m
Log Avenue 5.8 mi 8m
Longest stretch: 220th Street — 164.9 mi, about 3h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 15th Street

28 ft · 3 sec · 15th Street
2

Turn right onto CR K30

0.4 mi · 1 min · 16th Avenue
3

Turn left onto US 18

0.8 mi · 1 min · 10th Street
4

Continue on US 18

5.2 mi · 7 min · 310th Street
5

Continue on US 18; US 75

1.0 mi · 1 min · US 18; US 75
Use the left lane.
6

Turn left onto US 18

2.0 mi · 2 min · 320th Street
Use the left lane.
7

Continue on US 18

1.0 mi · 1 min · Black Forest Road
8

Continue on US 18

2.9 mi · 4 min · 320th Street
9

Turn right onto CR K64

8.0 mi · 11 min · Jackson Avenue
10

Turn left onto B40

7.5 mi · 10 min · 400th Street
11

Continue on Birch Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Birch Street
12

Continue on Cedar Street

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Cedar Street
13

Continue on 6th Avenue South

0.1 mi · 15 sec · 6th Avenue South
14

Turn right onto Fir Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Fir Street
15

Turn right onto L22

0.3 mi · 28 sec · County Road S
16

Continue on L22

5.8 mi · 8 min · Log Avenue
17

Turn left onto IA 10

1.0 mi · 1 min · 460th Street
18

Continue on IA 10

0.5 mi · 1 min · Garfield Street
19

Continue on IA 10

3.5 mi · 4 min · 460th Street
20

Turn right onto IA 143

5.0 mi · 6 min · Nettle Avenue
Use the right lane.
21

Continue on IA 143

5.7 mi · 7 min · D Avenue
22

Continue on IA 143

1.3 mi · 2 min · Ames Avenue
23

Turn left onto IA 3

5.0 mi · 6 min · 490th Street
24

Continue on IA 3

4.2 mi · 5 min · State Highway 3
25

Continue on IA 3

2.5 mi · 3 min · 500th Street
26

Turn straight onto IA 3

4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 3
27

Turn left onto IA 3

3.4 mi · 4 min · 530th Street
28

Turn right onto IA 7

2.0 mi · 2 min · V Avenue
29

Continue on IA 7

1.4 mi · 2 min · 1st Street
30

Continue on IA 7

2.1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 7
31

Continue on IA 7

1.1 mi · 1 min · Highway 7
32

Turn right onto 20th Avenue

9.2 mi · 12 min · 20th Avenue
33

Continue on CR M27

6.0 mi · 8 min · Armstrong Avenue
34

At end of road, turn left onto US 20

165 mi · 3 hr 10 min · 220th Street
35

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
36

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward I 80
37

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
38

Merge onto I 80

4.2 mi · 4 min · I 80
39

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward Downtown
40

Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Dubuque Street
41

Turn left onto Kimball Road

477 ft · 21 sec · Kimball Road
42

Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Gilbert Street
43

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 165.6 miles from Rock Valley, IA, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.9 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 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 165.6 miles or 3h 35m 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 37m

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 Rock Valley, 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 Rock Valley, IA

This is one driving day of about 331.1 miles and 6h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rock Valley, 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 164.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 165.6 mi from Rock Valley, IA · 3h 35m into the drive

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waterloo, IA

166 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

Waterloo, IA to Iowa City, IA

81.9 mi · 1h 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Denison, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ames, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 165.6 miles from Rock Valley, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 164.9 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

$51.76 one way

$103.53 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 116 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $56.83 $113.67
premium $4.89 $63.72 $127.43
diesel $5.61 $73.10 $146.21

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$52

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 115.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 99.3 1 $34.77 $15.89
Efficient EV 82.8 0 $28.97 $13.24
EV Truck/SUV 132.4 1 $46.35 $21.19

Gas CO2

116 kg

EV CO2

39 kg (66% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 9 hours ago

Origin

Rock Valley, IA

Late night in Rock Valley on Wednesday

Local time

5:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Chance Rain Showers

NE 0 to 10 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 14 at 7:05PM CDT until April 14 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 14 at 7:02PM CDT until April 14 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Iowa City, IA

Late night in Iowa City on Wednesday

Local time

5:08 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

W 5 to 15 mph 59% chance Live forecast

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 14 at 7:05PM CDT until April 14 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 14 at 7:02PM CDT until April 14 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

68°F

Waterloo, IA

166 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

14 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

6h 48m 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 Rock Valley, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 331.1 miles and takes about 6h 48m 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, 20th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 165.6 miles from Rock Valley, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.76 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 331.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 7.3 miles (US 18 / 320th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles (L22 / County Road S): Navigation decision point; at 40.4 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Rock Valley, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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