Traveling from Bellevue to Iowa City covers 107 miles of Midwestern landscape, typically taking about 2 hours and 14 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for approximately $16 in fuel costs for the one-way trek. The route primarily utilizes US 61 and the Ansel Briggs Highway before transitioning onto North Dodge Street as you approach your destination. This straightforward drive is well-suited for travelers looking for an efficient connection between these two Iowa communities. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will experience consistent regional terrain throughout the entire trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.5 miles from Bellevue, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
81.1 mi
1h 30m
Ansel Briggs Highway
17.9 mi
26m
North Dodge Street
2.1 mi
4m
State Street
1.2 mi
2m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
East Platt Street
0.9 mi
1m
200th Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
North Jefferson Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 81.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on US 52
38 ft·6 sec·South Riverview Street
2
Turn left onto IA 62
1.2 mi·2 min·State Street
3
Continue on IA 62
11 mi·16 min·Ansel Briggs Highway
4
Continue on IA 62
0.5 mi·44 sec·North Jefferson Street
5
Continue on IA 62
6.5 mi·9 min·Ansel Briggs Highway
6
Turn right onto IA 64
0.9 mi·1 min·East Platt Street
7
Turn left onto South Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
8
Continue on 200th Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·200th Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward US 61: Davenport
10
Merge onto US 61
32 mi·37 min·US 61
11
Take the exit onto US 61
49 mi·53 min·US 61
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
13
Turn left onto IA 1
2.1 mi·4 min·North Dodge Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Church Street
15
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Gilbert Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Since the 107-mile drive is manageable in a single stint, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You should note that there are no mandatory stops scheduled for this route, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you head out. With a total fuel cost of around $16, the trip is quite economical, but keep an eye on your gauge during the 81.1-mile stretch on US 61 where services may be less frequent. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider building in a brief break mid-trip to stretch your legs before you hit the final leg into Iowa City. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic on North Dodge Street can help ensure a smoother arrival at your final destination.
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 53.5 miles from Bellevue, IA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 24 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.5 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 48m
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 Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA
This is one driving day of about 107 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Bellevue, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 61 for about 81.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 104.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 62 / State Street
Turn left onto IA 62 / State Street
Navigation decision point
4
20.6 mi into trip|~31m in|South Main Street
Turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
22.4 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the ramp toward US 61: Davenport
Navigation decision point
Toward US 61: Davenport
4
103.9 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
4
104.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|IA 1 / North Dodge Street
Turn left onto IA 1 / North Dodge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.73 one way
$33.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.37
$36.73
premium
$4.89
$20.59
$41.18
diesel
$5.61
$23.62
$47.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.1
0
$11.24
$5.14
Efficient EV
26.8
0
$9.36
$4.28
EV Truck/SUV
42.8
0
$14.98
$6.85
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (65% 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
Bellevue, IA
Night
in Bellevue on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
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
24 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 14m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 76% of this trip is spent on high-speed thoroughfares. The majority of your time will be spent on US 61, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 81.1 miles. This configuration makes for a steady, predictable pace rather than a technical or winding drive. As you transition from the highway toward North Dodge Street, the character of the road shifts from open transit to more localized traffic. You will find that the drive maintains a functional, consistent rhythm that allows you to cover the distance with minimal stress.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.1 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and Ansel Briggs Highway. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 62 / State Street.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bellevue, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 2h 14m with 76% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 62 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 107 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 81.1 miles on US 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (IA 62 / State Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.6 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 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.
