Spanning 265.7 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive takes you from Cherokee to Iowa City in approximately 4 hours and 13 minutes. It is a manageable journey that fits perfectly into a single day of travel, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting about $40 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Since the entire route stays within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you traverse the state. This is a practical, straightforward option if you are looking to cross the state in a single session without the pressure of a multi-day itinerary.
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
132.3 miles from Cherokee, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
164.9 mi
3h 10m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
530th Street
3.7 mi
5m
State Highway 7
2.1 mi
2m
V Avenue
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 164.9 mi, about 3h 10m
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 Cherokee, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on this road
104 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto US 59
156 ft·9 sec·South 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.3 mi·2 min·East Main Street
4
Continue on State Highway 977
0.4 mi·36 sec·State Highway 977
5
Continue on 530th Street
3.7 mi·5 min·530th Street
6
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi·2 min·V Avenue
7
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
8
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
9
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
10
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
11
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
12
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
165 mi·3 hr 10 min·220th Street
13
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
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
16
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
18
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
19
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
20
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
21
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 13-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy local navigation. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion on local streets, giving you plenty of flexibility to adjust your pace throughout the day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can lead to unpredictable consumption compared to steady highway driving, though your $40 budget should remain sufficient. Since this route lacks high-speed segments, focus on maintaining a steady rhythm rather than trying to rush through the turns. Always verify your navigation before departing Cherokee, as the reliance on local roads like Highway 977 means you will be making several turns along the way.
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 132.3 miles from Cherokee, IA, or about 2h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.9 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 58 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.3 miles or 2h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 17m
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 Cherokee, 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 Cherokee, IA
This is one driving day of about 264.6 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Cherokee, 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 164.9 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 257 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 59 / South 2nd Street
Turn left onto US 59 / South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
192 mi into trip|~3h 49m 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
4
256.7 mi into trip|~5h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
257 mi into trip|~5h 1m 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
$39.08 one way
$78.15 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.14
$86.28
premium
$4.72
$49.13
$98.26
diesel
$4.80
$49.96
$99.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.4
0
$27.78
$12.70
Efficient EV
66.2
0
$23.15
$10.58
EV Truck/SUV
105.8
1
$37.04
$16.93
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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
Cherokee, IA
Late night
in Cherokee on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Mostly Clear
W 0 to 5 mph1% 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
1:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph2% 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
132 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
5h 15m 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 experience on this route, as it relies entirely on local roads rather than high-speed interstates. With a 0% highway share, you will be navigating along South 2nd Street, East Main Street, and Highway 977, which requires more active attention than a typical freeway cruise. The drive offers a distinct personality characterized by frequent turns and a constant connection to the local grid. Because there are no long, uninterrupted interstate stretches, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography from start to finish.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.9 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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 59 / South 2nd Street.
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 264.6 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: near the start (US 59 / South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 192 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5h 15m. Total distance: 264.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 164.9 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 59 / South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 192 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Iowa City, IA before the return drive.
