Trip from Webster City, 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

3h 6m

Distance

158.9 mi

256 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

19 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 55m ★

6 AM

3h 7m

8 AM

3h 30m

10 AM

3h 15m

12 PM

3h 13m

3 PM

3h 16m

5 PM

3h 29m

8 PM

3h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 158.9 miles and takes about 3h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 20, Avenue of the Saints, I 80 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 84.4 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.84 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

79.4 miles from Webster City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 158.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 158.9 miles and takes about 3h 6m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 84.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Superior Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 158.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Superior Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 86.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Superior Street

Turn right onto Superior Street

Navigation decision point

5

1.5 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp toward US 20 East

Navigation decision point

Toward US 20 East

6

86.3 mi into trip | ~1h 41m 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

4

151 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in

Take the exit toward I 80

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 80

5

151.2 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 80 East: Davenport

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 20	84.4 mi	1h 37m
Avenue of the Saints	64.7 mi	1h 11m
I 80	4.2 mi	4m
Superior Street	1.3 mi	2m
North Dubuque Street	1 mi	2m
North Gilbert Street	0.8 mi	2m
Briggs Woods Road	0.3 mi	<1m
Kimball Road	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: US 20 — 84.4 mi, about 1h 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Webster City, IA and Iowa City, IA.

1

Start on CR D20

60 ft · 5 sec · 2nd Street

2

Turn right onto Superior Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Superior Street

3

Continue on IA 17

0.3 mi · 33 sec · Briggs Woods Road

4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec

Toward US 20 East

5

Merge onto US 20

84 mi · 1 hr 37 min · US 20

6

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

7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Toward I 80

8

Keep slight left at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min

Toward I 80 East: Davenport

9

Merge onto I 80

4.2 mi · 4 min · I 80

10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec

Toward Downtown

11

Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · North Dubuque Street

12

Turn left onto Kimball Road

477 ft · 21 sec · Kimball Road

13

Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street

0.8 mi · 2 min · North Gilbert Street

14

Arrive at destination

South Gilbert Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 79.4 miles from Webster City, IA, or about 1h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.4 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 35 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 79.4 miles or 1h 33m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 29m

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 Webster City, 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 Webster City, IA

This is one driving day of about 158.9 miles and 3h 6m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Webster City, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 84.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 79.4 mi from Webster City, IA · 1h 33m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vinton, IA

79 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.

Popular next leg

Vinton, IA to Iowa City, IA

60.7 mi · 1h 17m

Pacing Suggestions

Eldora, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elk Run Heights, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 79.4 miles from Webster City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.4 miles.

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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Crêpes de Luxe Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 158.9

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198872233

Visit website

Pullman Bar & Diner

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.2 mi

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kindred Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 158.9

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

The Black Angel Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.2 mi

DAYDRINK

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.5 mi

Crêpes de Luxe Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198872233

Visit website

Pullman Bar & Diner

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $20 to $30 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+13193381808

Visit website

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+13193587342

Visit website

St. Burch Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route Moderately mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193417700

Visit website

Nodo Downtown

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+13193591181

Visit website

The Encounter Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+13195192044

Visit website

Bluebird Diner

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13193511470

Visit website

The Dandy Lion

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+13193586400

Visit website

Kindred Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

The Black Angel Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13193591848

Visit website

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route mile 147.5

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 79.4

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

ChargeLab Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 158.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 158.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

Field Day Brewing Co.

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $20 to $30 mile 147.5

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–11 pm

+13192082154

Visit website

Barrel House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 147.5

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13196262550

Visit website

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 158.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+13196255568

Bistro at Blooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20 mile 124.8

Marion, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2:30 pm

+13194499996

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$24.84 one way

$49.68 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$27.28	$54.55
premium	$4.89	$30.58	$61.16
diesel	$5.61	$35.08	$70.17

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 55.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

19 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Blink Charging Station

Webster City, Iowa

Blink

1 DCFC

Red E Charging Station

Webster City, Iowa

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Iowa City, Iowa

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Waterloo, Iowa

Tesla

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Coralville, Iowa

Tesla

1 DCFC

EV Connect Charging Station

Iowa City, Iowa

EV Connect

1 DCFC

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Coralville, Iowa

Shell Recharge

1 DCFC

Blink: 4 Other: 4 Tesla: 4 ChargePoint: 3 Shell Recharge: 2 EV Connect: 1 EVgo: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	47.7	$16.68	$7.63
Efficient EV	39.7	$13.90	$6.36
EV Truck/SUV	63.6	$22.25	$10.17

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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 17, 2026

Origin

Webster City, IA

Night in Webster City on Friday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Iowa City, IA

Night in Iowa City on Friday

Local time

11:36 PM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Mostly Clear

SE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

49°F

Vinton, IA

79 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

9 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

3h 6m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA covers 158.9 miles and takes about 3h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 20, Avenue of the Saints, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 79.4 miles from Webster City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.84 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 158.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Superior Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 86.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Webster City, IA or browse trips ending in Iowa City, IA.

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Trip from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Iowa City, IA

Nearby Places

Crêpes de Luxe Cafe

Kindred Coffee

Crêpes de Luxe Cafe

Pullman Bar & Diner

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

St. Burch Tavern

Nodo Downtown

The Encounter Cafe

Bluebird Diner

The Dandy Lion

Kindred Coffee

The Black Angel Restaurant

DAYDRINK

Press Coffee

Power Café

Sidekick Coffee & Books

Java House Coffee Roasters - First Ave

EMRB Café

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Red E Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

ChargeLab Charging Station

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Field Day Brewing Co.

Barrel House

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

Bistro at Blooms

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Webster City, IA

Iowa City, IA

Same local time

9 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 6m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How many breaks should I plan?

How hard is the drive from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Webster City, IA to Iowa City, IA?

How this page is built

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