Origin
Colfax, IA
Night in Colfax on Tuesday
Local time
9:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colfax, IA to Iowa City, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 9, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
91.9 mi
148 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 44m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colfax, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Colfax to Iowa City is 91.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 43 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within Iowa, connecting two points in the Midwest. Given its short duration and highway focus, it’s a trip you can easily complete in a single day. It's primarily a utilitarian route for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.9 miles from Colfax, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 88.4 mi | 1h 35m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 117 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| North Walnut Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Kimball Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Howard Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Gilbert Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 88.4 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,013 veh/hr typical · worst 1,432
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 101 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 Colfax, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on East Howard Street
55 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Howard Street
2
Turn right onto IA 117
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Walnut Street
3
Continue on IA 117
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
State Highway 117
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
5
Merge onto I 80; US 6
88 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 80; US 6
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
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid any early rush and ensure you have ample daylight. Since this is a short, highway-dominated route, you won't need many stops, but it’s wise to fuel up before you leave Colfax to stay within your estimated $14 budget. Keep an eye on your GPS as you approach Iowa City, as the transition from I 80 to local streets happens quickly.
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 45.9 miles from Colfax, IA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.4 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 20 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.9 miles or 50m 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 21m
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 Colfax, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Colfax, IA
This is one driving day of about 91.9 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Colfax, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 88.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.9 miles from Colfax, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.4 miles.
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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 91.1 — 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 117 / North Walnut Street
Turn right onto IA 117 / North Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 80; US 6
Merge onto I 80; US 6
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
89.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downtown
3
90 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
North Dubuque Street
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
Navigation decision point
4
91.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
|
North Gilbert Street
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.25 one way
$28.50 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $15.62 | $31.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $17.83 | $35.66 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $20.26 | $40.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.65 | $4.41 |
| Efficient EV | 23 | 0 | $8.04 | $3.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.87 | $5.88 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Night in Iowa City on Tuesday
Local time
9:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Brooklyn, IA
46 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 43m 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 drive is almost entirely on I 80, with a 97% highway share. You'll experience a long stretch of 88.4 miles on I 80, offering consistent cruising. The final portion of your drive, after leaving I 80, will be on North Dubuque Street and North Gilbert Street for the remaining 3.5 miles. Expect a steady pace with minimal interruptions until the very end.
97% 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: 88.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and North Dubuque Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 117 / North Walnut Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Colfax, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 43m with 97% 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 117 / North Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 80; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 89.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
About the Cities
Starting in Colfax, IA
Full guide →Top landmarks
- • Colfax Spring City Commercial Historic District — historic district in Colfax, Iowa, USA
Arriving in Iowa City, IA
Full guide →Founded 1839
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 91.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.4 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: near the start (IA 117 / North Walnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (I 80; US 6): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 89.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. 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
Continue From Iowa City, IA
More from Colfax, IA
More trips to Iowa City, IA
Explore more options from Colfax, IA or browse trips ending in Iowa City, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.