Traveling from Alta to Iowa City covers 247 miles across the heart of the Midwest, a journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 54 minutes. Because the route is relatively straightforward, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budget approximately $37 for fuel to complete the transit between these two Iowa locations. You will navigate a mix of local roads rather than relying on major interstates, which gives the trip a more personal feel. This drive is ideal if you prefer exploring the state's interior landscape at your own pace. With only one recommended stop, you can easily reach your destination by evening if you start your journey in the morning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
123.4 miles from Alta, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
157.8 mi
3h 2m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
Gard Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
Highway 7
3.3 mi
4m
90th Avenue
3.3 mi
4m
State Highway 110
3 mi
4m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 157.8 mi, about 3h 2m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alta, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on 60th Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·60th Avenue
2
Turn left onto IA 7
3.3 mi·4 min·Highway 7
3
Turn right onto IA 110
0.3 mi·29 sec·90th Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on IA 110
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 110
5
Turn straight onto 85th Avenue
0.2 mi·22 sec·85th Avenue
6
Turn left onto CR C65
0.5 mi·43 sec·630th Street
7
Turn right onto CR M43
3.0 mi·4 min·90th Avenue
8
Continue on CR M43
5.9 mi·8 min·Gard Avenue
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
158 mi·3 hr 2 min·220th Street
10
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
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
13
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
15
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
16
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
17
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure early in the morning to account for the nearly four-hour duration of this local route. Since you are sticking to smaller roads, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially since your estimated cost is $37. You should pace yourself by utilizing your one recommended stop to stretch your legs and reset after the turn-heavy segments. Given the nature of these local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns that are more frequent than on a typical highway. Being flexible with your departure time is a major advantage here, as it allows you to avoid peak local traffic and enjoy a more relaxed transit through the region.
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 123.4 miles from Alta, IA, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.8 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 54 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.4 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 56m
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 Alta, 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 Alta, IA
This is one driving day of about 246.7 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 miles from Alta, 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 220th Street for about 157.8 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 239.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in|IA 110 / 90th Avenue
Turn right onto IA 110 / 90th Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
6.9 mi into trip|~10m in|CR C65 / 630th Street
Turn left onto CR C65 / 630th Street
Navigation decision point
4
7.4 mi into trip|~11m in|CR M43 / 90th Avenue
Turn right onto CR M43 / 90th Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
174.1 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
239.1 mi into trip|~4h 37m 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
$36.43 one way
$72.86 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$40.22
$80.44
premium
$4.72
$45.80
$91.61
diesel
$4.80
$46.58
$93.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74
0
$25.90
$11.84
Efficient EV
61.7
0
$21.59
$9.87
EV Truck/SUV
98.7
1
$34.54
$15.79
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Alta, IA
Late night
in Alta on Sunday
Local time
12:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Chance Rain Showers
N 5 to 10 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
12:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
NW 5 to 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
86°F
Waterloo, IA
123 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
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
4h 51m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will spend your time navigating Highway 7, 90th Avenue, and Highway 110, which requires your full attention behind the wheel. Because there is no long-distance stretch on Highway 7, the drive feels constant and requires frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. This technical, local approach provides a distinct contrast to high-speed travel, keeping you engaged with the local road network. Prepare for a hands-on experience where the focus remains on navigating smaller, secondary roads for the entire duration of the trip.
Only 4% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.8 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in near IA 110 / 90th Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 246.7 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 3.4 miles (IA 110 / 90th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (CR C65 / 630th Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (CR M43 / 90th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Hip and urban, Iowa City is a prominent college town primarily known as the home of the University of Iowa. Along with its adjacent suburb of Coralville, just to the west. Iowa City sits at the center of a metro area home to 171,000 people (2020) in the I-380 Corridor region of Eastern Iowa.
Top landmarks
•University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art — museum in Iowa City, Iowa
•Vogt House — historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
•First Johnson County Asylum — historic building located on the far west side of Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 246.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (4%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 157.8 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles (IA 110 / 90th Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (CR C65 / 630th Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles (CR M43 / 90th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
