Audubon, IA to Iowa City, IA is 202.1 miles and takes about 3h 49m via I 80 and US 6, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused trip across the heart of the Midwest, specifically within Iowa. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates and highways, making for a predictable and efficient journey. Given the relatively short duration, it's an ideal one-day drive, perfect for a quick transition between locations or a dedicated travel day without feeling overly rushed. Consider this route if you prioritize getting to your destination quickly and comfortably.
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
101 miles from Audubon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
121.3 mi
2h 12m
US 6
62 mi
1h 7m
Highway 71
14.3 mi
19m
Lincoln Street
1 mi
1m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
South Market Street
0.6 mi
1m
650th Street
0.6 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 121.3 mi, about 2h 12m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,933 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,316
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
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 Audubon, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on US 71
0.6 mi·1 min·South Market Street
2
Continue on US 71
12 mi·16 min·Highway 71
3
Continue on US 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street
4
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi·3 min·Highway 71
5
Continue on US 71
0.6 mi·55 sec·650th Street
6
Turn left onto US 6
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 6
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
10
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
11
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
12
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
For this 3h 49m drive, leaving in the morning allows you to arrive with plenty of daylight, especially since it's a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $32, pacing yourself on I 80 is key; the longest stretch without a major change is over 121 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly before entering that longer segment. Since this is a shorter, highway-intensive route, you have the flexibility to stop for breaks as needed, but ensure you're prepared for the extended time on I 80. Having a full tank before departing Audubon is a good practice.
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 101 miles from Audubon, IA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 121.3 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 44 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101 miles or 1h 55m 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 5m
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 Audubon, 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 Audubon, IA
This is one driving day of about 202.1 miles and 3h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Audubon, 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 I 80 for about 121.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$1 to $10
Coralville, Iowa
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+13196255568
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.5 and 201.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
16.5 mi into trip|~23m in|US 6
Turn left onto US 6
Navigation decision point
9
78.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
93 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
4
199.8 mi into trip|~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downtown
4
201.3 mi into trip|~3h 46m in|North Gilbert Street
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.85 one way
$59.69 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$32.95
$65.90
premium
$4.72
$37.52
$75.05
diesel
$4.80
$38.16
$76.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.6
0
$21.22
$9.70
Efficient EV
50.5
0
$17.68
$8.08
EV Truck/SUV
80.8
1
$28.29
$12.93
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Audubon, IA
Late night
in Audubon on Sunday
Local time
3:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
NNE 6 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
3:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
NW 10 mph11% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 49m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with a 98% highway share, meaning you'll be on fast-paced roads for the vast majority of your 202.1 miles. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 121.3 miles on I 80, offering a substantial period of consistent driving. Expect a profile that's largely predictable and efficient, with minimal interruptions from local traffic or slower speeds. While the specific roads like US 6 and Highway 71 will offer slight variations, the overall character remains that of a highway-focused drive, designed for covering distance.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 121.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 6. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 16.5 miles in near US 6.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 49m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 16.5 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 78.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,401 ft666 ft
Total Climb
517 ft
Total Descent
1,155 ft
Highest Point
1,401 ft
~28.9 mi in
Elevation Range
735 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Audubon, IA and Iowa City, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
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
The longest stretch is about 121.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 23 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 16.5 miles (US 6): Navigation decision point; at 78.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
