This 100.5-mile drive from Tripoli to Iowa City, Iowa, is a straightforward 2-hour and 9-minute journey that works perfectly as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $16, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including segments of Avenue of the Saints and North Raymond Road, suggesting a more connected-to-the-landscape experience rather than a pure interstate cruise. Given its relatively short duration and focus on local roads, you'll find yourself immersed in the Midwest's familiar terrain without needing an overnight stay. This trip offers a manageable and budget-friendly way to travel between two points within the same state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.3 miles from Tripoli, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
65.3 mi
1h 12m
North Raymond Road
10 mi
15m
Piedmont Avenue
5.8 mi
7m
Reed Avenue
5 mi
8m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
South Raymond Road
2.2 mi
3m
230th Street
2 mi
2m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 65.3 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tripoli, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on IA 93
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Continue on Piedmont Avenue
5.8 mi·7 min·Piedmont Avenue
3
Turn left onto IA 3
2.0 mi·2 min·230th Street
4
Turn right onto Reed Avenue
5.0 mi·8 min·Reed Avenue
5
Continue on CR V49
10.0 mi·15 min·North Raymond Road
6
Enter roundabout onto CR V49
133 ft·2 sec·South Raymond Road
7
Continue on CR V49
1.5 mi·2 min·South Raymond Road
8
Continue on CR V49
0.5 mi·55 sec·North 3rd Street
9
Turn right onto CR V49
160 ft·8 sec·Lafayette Road
10
Turn left onto CR V49
0.8 mi·1 min·South 3rd Street
11
Continue on CR V49
0.7 mi·1 min·South Raymond Road
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
13
Merge onto I 380; US 20; IA 27
0.7 mi·45 sec·Avenue of the Saints
14
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
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
16
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
17
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
19
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
20
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
21
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
22
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 9-minute trip covering 100.5 miles, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure. Given the shorter distance and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, planning for stops isn't strictly necessary, but you can easily build in brief pauses as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $16, so a full tank before leaving Tripoli should be more than sufficient. Pay attention to the various local roads, including Avenue of the Saints, as the frequent turns are a defining characteristic of this route. Enjoy the straightforward, manageable travel experience.
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 50.3 miles from Tripoli, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.3 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 22 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.3 miles or 1h 7m 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 43m
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 Tripoli, 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 Tripoli, IA
This is one driving day of about 100.5 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Tripoli, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 65.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 92.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
6.4 mi into trip|~9m in|IA 3 / 230th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 230th Street
Navigation decision point
4
23.4 mi into trip|~36m in|CR V49 / South Raymond Road
Enter roundabout onto CR V49 / South Raymond Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
25.4 mi into trip|~39m in|CR V49 / Lafayette Road
Turn right onto CR V49 / Lafayette Road
Navigation decision point
6
27.9 mi into trip|~43m 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
92.9 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.71 one way
$31.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.25
$34.50
premium
$4.89
$19.34
$38.68
diesel
$5.61
$22.19
$44.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.2
0
$10.55
$4.82
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
EV Truck/SUV
40.2
0
$14.07
$6.43
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Tripoli, IA
Afternoon
in Tripoli on Saturday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
12:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
3 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
2h 9m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' on this route, with 4% of your journey on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 65.3 miles along Avenue of the Saints, indicating a significant portion of the drive involves navigating local roads and intersections. This profile suggests a driving experience that is more about engaging with the immediate surroundings, with frequent turns and changes in scenery as you move through towns and countryside. It's less of a high-speed transit and more of an exploratory feel, keeping you alert and connected to the road.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.3 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near IA 3 / 230th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 100.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (IA 3 / 230th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.4 miles (CR V49 / South Raymond Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.4 miles (CR V49 / Lafayette Road): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 100.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Iowa City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (IA 3 / 230th Street): Navigation decision point; at 23.4 miles (CR V49 / South Raymond Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 25.4 miles (CR V49 / Lafayette Road): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa City, IA before heading back.
