This 151.2-mile drive from Corydon, IA to Iowa City, IA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 16 minutes. With a highway share of 94%, it's a predominantly interstate-focused journey. You'll spend most of your time on I-80, with some initial travel on State Highway 14 and South Lincoln Street. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $24. Given its relatively short duration and highway-centric profile, this trip is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. The Midwest regions offer a consistent driving experience throughout.
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
75.6 miles from Corydon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
79.3 mi
1h 25m
State Highway 14
63.1 mi
1h 33m
South Lincoln Street
2.3 mi
3m
South 7th Street
1.5 mi
2m
South Monroe Street
1 mi
1m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
North Washington Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 79.3 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Corydon, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on South Franklin Street
86 ft·5 sec·South Franklin Street
2
Turn right onto IA 2
460 ft·13 sec·West Jefferson Street
3
Turn left onto IA 14
460 ft·13 sec·South Lafayette Street
4
Turn left onto IA 14
242 ft·6 sec·East Jackson Street
5
Turn right onto IA 14
0.7 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
6
Continue on IA 14
16 mi·24 min·State Highway 14
7
Continue on IA 14
0.4 mi·38 sec·Main Street
8
Turn straight onto IA 14; US 34 Business
492 ft·8 sec·State Highway 14
9
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
0.2 mi·21 sec·Woodlawn Avenue
10
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14; US 34 Business
1.5 mi·2 min·South 7th Street
11
Continue on IA 14
23 mi·34 min·State Highway 14
12
Continue on IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·South Lincoln Street
13
Continue on IA 14
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
14
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·South Monroe Street
15
Continue on IA 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
16
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
17
Merge onto I 80
79 mi·1 hr 25 min·I 80
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
19
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
20
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
21
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
22
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 16-minute drive, departing in the morning allows you to arrive in Iowa City with ample time for activities. While the route has only one recommended stop, the 79.3-mile stretch on I-80 means you might want to plan for a brief rest stop before or after this longer segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's a budget-friendly trip. Consider leaving Corydon slightly earlier than usual to take advantage of the open roads before potential midday traffic on I-80. The highway-focused nature of this trip means you can generally maintain a consistent speed.
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 75.6 miles from Corydon, IA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 79.3 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 33 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.6 miles or 1h 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 2h 43m
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 Corydon, 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 Corydon, IA
This is one driving day of about 151.2 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Corydon, 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 79.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 151.2
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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 149 — 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|IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Turn right onto IA 2 / West Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 14 / South Lafayette Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / South Lafayette Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 14 / East Jackson Street
Turn left onto IA 14 / East Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
5
18.1 mi into trip|~27m in|IA 14; US 34 Business / South 7th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14; US 34 Business / South 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
149 mi into trip|~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.64 one way
$47.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.95
$51.91
premium
$4.89
$29.10
$58.19
diesel
$5.61
$33.38
$66.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.88
$7.26
Efficient EV
37.8
0
$13.23
$6.05
EV Truck/SUV
60.5
0
$21.17
$9.68
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Corydon, IA
Morning
in Corydon on Sunday
Local time
6:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
6:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
76 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
22 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
3h 16m 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 drive for most of this 151.2-mile route, with 94% of it being on major roadways like I-80. The initial segment will involve State Highway 14 and South Lincoln Street before merging onto the interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 79.3 miles on I-80, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. This profile suggests a drive characterized by efficiency and speed, minimizing time spent navigating local roads. The transition to I-80 will likely feel like a significant shift to faster travel.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 79.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 14. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 2 / West Jefferson Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 16m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 14 / South Lafayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 14 / East Jackson Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 151.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 79.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 2 / West Jefferson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (IA 14 / South Lafayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (IA 14 / East Jackson Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
