If you are planning to travel from Aplington to Iowa City, expect a straightforward journey spanning 116.2 miles. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 55 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to complete the transit. Since the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you will experience a more grounded connection to the Midwest landscape. It is a manageable distance for a single day of travel, allowing you plenty of time at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58 miles from Aplington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
US 20
29.1 mi
33m
N Avenue
6.5 mi
9m
Parrott Street
4.9 mi
7m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
6th Street
1.4 mi
2m
State Highway 14
1 mi
1m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Aplington, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on IA 57
4.9 mi·7 min·Parrott Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto IA 14; IA 57
1.4 mi·2 min·6th Street
3
Turn right onto IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 14
4
Continue on IA 14
6.5 mi·9 min·N Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
6
Merge onto US 20
29 mi·33 min·US 20
7
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
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
9
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
10
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
12
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
13
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
14
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it best suits your schedule. Because there are no designated stops included in this 1 hour and 55-minute drive, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave to cover the $18 cost. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route requires your full attention, so plan for a steady pace rather than trying to rush. If you prefer a more relaxed journey, consider building in your own breaks along the local roads to stretch your legs. Focus on navigating the specific turns on Highway 14 and N Avenue to stay on track.
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 58 miles from Aplington, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58 miles or 1h 11m 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 52m
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 Aplington, 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 Aplington, IA
This is one driving day of about 116 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Aplington, 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 64.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 108.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
4.9 mi into trip|~7m in|IA 14; IA 57 / 6th Street
At end of road, turn right onto IA 14; IA 57 / 6th Street
Navigation decision point
4
6.4 mi into trip|~9m in|IA 14 / State Highway 14
Turn right onto IA 14 / State Highway 14
Navigation decision point
5
13.8 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
6
43.4 mi into trip|~55m 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
108.3 mi into trip|~2h 7m 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
$18.14 one way
$36.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.91
$39.82
premium
$4.89
$22.32
$44.65
diesel
$5.61
$25.61
$51.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
34.8
0
$12.18
$5.57
Efficient EV
29
0
$10.15
$4.64
EV Truck/SUV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.42
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Aplington, IA
Morning
in Aplington on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
58 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
26 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 21m 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?
This 116.2-mile trek is a turn-heavy local drive that favors rural navigation over high-speed interstate cruising. You will navigate via 6th Street, Highway 14, and N Avenue, maintaining a 0% highway share throughout the entire duration. Because the route consists entirely of local roads, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience rather than a monotonous highway slog. The lack of long, uninterrupted stretches means you will stay engaged with the road as you transition through the heart of Iowa.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in near IA 14; IA 57 / 6th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 116 miles you will encounter 12 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 4.9 miles (IA 14; IA 57 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 116 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.7 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 4.9 miles (IA 14; IA 57 / 6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles (IA 14 / State Highway 14): Navigation decision point; at 13.8 miles: 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.
