Origin
Tama, IA
Evening in Tama on Sunday
Local time
5:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
71.6 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 14m
8 AM
1h 26m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 17m
3 PM
1h 19m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tama, IA
Tara Winstead
Iowa City, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 71.6 miles and takes about 1h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 5th Street, Lincoln Highway, 73rd Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
35.8 miles from Tama, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 14m drive with frequent turns across 71.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East 5th 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 Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 14m 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 Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 73rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 380 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Downtown | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
East 5th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tama, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on State Street
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
State Street
2
Turn left onto East 5th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lincoln Highway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Highway
4
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
5
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Highway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Continue on 73rd Street
33 mi
·
38 min
·
73rd Street
7
Take the exit slight right toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
8
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 80
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 80
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
I 80 East: Davenport
11
Merge slight left
4.2 mi
·
4 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Downtown
13
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
14
Turn left onto Kimball Road
476 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
15
Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 35.8 miles from Tama, IA, or about 37m 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 71.6 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.8 miles or 37m 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 3m
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 Tama, 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 Tama, IA
This is one driving day of about 71.6 miles and 1h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Tama, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.8 mi from Tama, IA · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 71.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Tama, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.88 one way
$21.75 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
| premium | $4.80 | $13.52 | $27.03 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $15.91 | $31.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Evening in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
1h 14m 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 Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 71.6 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 5th Street, Lincoln Highway, 73rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.8 miles from Tama, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.88 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 Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 14m 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 Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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