Origin
Washington, IA
Morning in Washington on Wednesday
Local time
7:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
40m
Distance
33.5 mi
54 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
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.
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
16.7 miles from Washington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Loading map...
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.
West Main 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 Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 40m 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 Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 2nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 4th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North 12th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Highway W61 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Co Hwy W61 / Riverside Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Road G36 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
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
·
6 sec
·
South Marion Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
27 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 the end of the road, turn left onto North 4th Avenue
102 ft
·
4 sec
·
North 4th Avenue
6
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
59 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 left
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
13
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
19 mi
·
21 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Take the exit slight right toward Airport
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
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 Grand Army of the Republic Highway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
19
Turn left onto South Gilbert Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gilbert Street
20
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 33.5-mile drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever your schedule allows without worrying about complex trip pacing. You won't need to plan for any formal stops along the way, as the journey is quick enough to complete in one go. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS navigation before leaving to ensure you are comfortable with the sequence of West Main Street, North 2nd Avenue, and East 7th Street. Keep your $5 fuel budget in mind as a modest estimate for your travel costs. Because there are no designated stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up in Washington before you head out to avoid any mid-trip inconveniences.
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 16.7 miles from Washington, IA, or about 20m 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 33.5 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.7 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 34m
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 Washington, 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 Washington, IA
This is one driving day of about 33.5 miles and 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Washington, 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 16.7 mi from Washington, IA · 20m 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 33.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.7 miles from Washington, 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
$5.24 one way
$10.47 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.75 | $11.50 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.45 | $12.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.40 | $14.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
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 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
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
Morning in Iowa City on Wednesday
Local time
7:12 AM
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
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
40m 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 33.5 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Main Street, North 2nd Avenue, East 7th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.7 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 $5.24 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 Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 40m 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 Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Washington, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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