Origin
Brooklyn, IA
Late night in Brooklyn on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brooklyn, IA to Iowa City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
51.7 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brooklyn, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Brooklyn, IA to Iowa City, IA is 51.7 miles and takes about 1h 2m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward journey. Given its brief duration and focus on highway travel, it's ideal for a quick relocation or a day trip where you want to maximize your time at your destination. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a direct and efficient commute rather than a scenic exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 46.4 mi | 50m |
| CR V18 | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Jackson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kimball Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 2nd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Gilbert Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 46.4 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brooklyn, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on CR V18
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
Jackson Street
2
Turn left onto CR V18; US 6 Hist
219 ft
·
4 sec
·
East 2nd Street
3
Keep slight right at fork onto CR V18; US 6 Hist
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
CR V18; US 6 Hist
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
46 mi
·
50 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
7
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
8
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
9
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
10
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Brooklyn, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 50.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR V18; US 6 Hist / East 2nd Street
Turn left onto CR V18; US 6 Hist / East 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR V18; US 6 Hist
Keep slight right at fork onto CR V18; US 6 Hist
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
2.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
49.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downtown
4
50.9 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
North Gilbert Street
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.08 one way
$16.17 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.87 | $17.75 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.95 | $19.90 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.41 | $22.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.43 | $2.48 |
| Efficient EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.24 | $3.31 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Williamsburg, IA
26 mi in
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
23 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
1h 2m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 90% of the 51.7 miles spent on major interstates and highways. The majority of your journey, a continuous stretch of 46.4 miles, will be on I 80. This means you can expect consistent speeds and minimal interruptions for much of the trip. The transition to CR V18 and then North Dubuque Street will mark the final approach, offering a slight change in scenery as you near Iowa City.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and CR V18. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CR V18; US 6 Hist / East 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 51.7 miles you will encounter 8 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 0.3 miles (CR V18; US 6 Hist / East 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (CR V18; US 6 Hist): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 51.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.4 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CR V18; US 6 Hist / East 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (CR V18; US 6 Hist): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 2.8 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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Iowa City, IA
Explore more options from Brooklyn, IA or browse trips ending in Iowa City, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.