Origin
Washington, IA
Late night in Washington on Saturday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
33.3 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Washington and Iowa City, this 33.5-mile journey is a straightforward option. Expect to spend about 40 minutes behind the wheel, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via West Main Street, North 2nd Avenue, and East 7th Street rather than major interstates. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is a very economical trip for your commute or weekend plans. Both towns are located within the Midwest, so you can expect a familiar regional atmosphere throughout the entire drive. This route is best suited for those who prefer local roads over high-speed highway travel.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 33.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will be navigating local streets for the duration of the 40-minute trip, so stay alert for frequent changes in direction. Because the drive consists entirely of local roads, there is no long-distance highway stretch; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on West Main Street. The personality of this route is defined by its constant transitions between streets rather than sustained speed. Be prepared to keep your hands on the wheel and focus on the turns as you make your way through the local landscape.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 18.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Main Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (North 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 2nd Avenue
Turn left onto North 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 4th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto North 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
10 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
28.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Take the exit toward Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Airport
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
28.9 mi in
|
~37m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 18.6 mi | 21m |
| County Road G36 | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| South Gilbert Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| County Highway W61 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Co Hwy W61 / Riverside Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Riverside Drive | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Old Highway 218 South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 18.6 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on South Marion Avenue
92 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Marion Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto North 2nd Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North 2nd Avenue
4
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 7th Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto North 4th Avenue
102 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 4th Avenue
6
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
East 7th Street
7
Turn left onto North 12th Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 12th Avenue
8
Continue on County Highway W61
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway W61
9
Continue on Co Hwy W61 / Riverside Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Co Hwy W61 / Riverside Road
10
Turn right onto County Road G36
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road G36
11
Continue on 220th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
220th Street
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
13
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward Airport
15
Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
16
Continue on Old Highway 218 South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Highway 218 South
17
Continue on South Riverside Drive
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Riverside Drive
18
Turn right onto US 6
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 6 East
19
Turn left onto South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
20
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.6 mi from Washington, IA · 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.6 miles from Washington, 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
$5.21 one way
$10.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.72 | $11.43 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.41 | $12.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.50 | $1.60 |
| Efficient EV | 8.3 | 0 | $2.91 | $1.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.66 | $2.13 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Late night in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
2:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Riverside, IA
17 mi in
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
4 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
47m 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 Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 33.3 miles and takes about 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, County Road G36, South Gilbert Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.6 miles from Washington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.21 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.
This is a straightforward 47m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (North 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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