Drive Time
4h 21m
Distance
273.6 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$41
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Spencer, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 273.6 miles and takes about 4h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Grand Avenue, 4th Street Southwest, 4th Avenue Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $40.62 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
136.8 miles from Spencer, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 10m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 21m drive with frequent turns across 273.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 4th Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 4th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 11th Street Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 11th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 215th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 130th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 71 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Spencer, IA and Iowa City, IA.
Start on East 4th Street
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Turn right onto 4th Street Southwest
Turn left onto 4th Avenue Southwest
Turn right onto 11th Street Southwest
Turn left onto 11th Avenue Southwest
Continue on 215th Avenue
Continue on 130th Avenue
Continue on County Highway 71
Continue on 130th Avenue
Continue on US 71
Take the exit left toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints
Take the exit slight right toward I 80
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
Turn left onto Kimball Road
Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.8 miles or 2h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Spencer, 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 Spencer, IA
This is one driving day of about 273.6 miles and 4h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.8 mi from Spencer, IA · 2h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 136.8 miles from Spencer, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$40.62 one way
$81.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $45.81 | $91.62 |
| premium | $4.65 | $50.13 | $100.26 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $57.13 | $114.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.1 | 1 | $28.73 | $13.13 |
| Efficient EV | 68.4 | 0 | $23.94 | $10.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 109.4 | 1 | $38.30 | $17.51 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Spencer on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
137 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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