Traveling from Cresco to Iowa City covers 140.5 miles across the heart of the Midwest, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 32 minutes of drive time. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best suited for a single-day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $21 on fuel for the one-way trek. Navigating this route requires your full attention as you transition between local roads like 3rd Street West, 3rd Street Southwest, and Willow Avenue. While the distance is relatively short, the local nature of the roads means you should plan for a steady pace rather than high-speed cruising. It is a straightforward trip that links these two Iowa communities without the complexity of major interstate travel.
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
70.1 miles from Cresco, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
54.4 mi
1h
Union Avenue
20.8 mi
28m
Viking Avenue
13.3 mi
18m
Baxter Avenue
10.6 mi
14m
Willow Avenue
9.9 mi
13m
Benson Shady Grove Avenue
7.1 mi
9m
Y Avenue
5 mi
8m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 54.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cresco, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on 8th Avenue East
0.3 mi·1 min·8th Avenue East
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street West
0.6 mi·1 min·3rd Street West
3
Continue on 3rd Street Southwest
1.2 mi·2 min·3rd Street Southwest
4
Continue on Willow Avenue
9.9 mi·13 min·Willow Avenue
5
Turn right onto 100th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·100th Street
6
Turn left onto Union Avenue
9.7 mi·13 min·Union Avenue
7
Turn right onto IA 24
0.5 mi·55 sec·State Highway 24
8
Turn left onto V56
437 ft·8 sec·County Highway V56
9
Continue on V56
11 mi·15 min·Union Avenue
10
Continue on V56
13 mi·18 min·Viking Avenue
11
Turn left onto IA 3
3.0 mi·4 min·230th Street
12
Turn right onto Y Avenue
5.0 mi·8 min·Y Avenue
13
Continue on North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
0.3 mi·32 sec·North Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
14
Turn left onto IA 281
1.0 mi·1 min·102nd Street
15
Continue on Fairbank Street
0.2 mi·28 sec·Fairbank Street
16
Turn right onto Walnut Street South
0.3 mi·45 sec·Walnut Street South
17
Continue on CR V62
1.5 mi·2 min·Baxter Avenue
18
Enter roundabout onto CR V62
136 ft·2 sec·Baxter Avenue
19
Continue on CR V62
9.0 mi·12 min·Baxter Avenue
20
Continue on V62
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
21
At end of road, turn left onto CR D22
0.3 mi·29 sec·South Street
22
Turn right onto V65
7.1 mi·9 min·Benson Shady Grove Avenue
23
Continue on CR V65
1.1 mi·1 min·South Black Hawk Buchanan Avenue
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
25
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
54 mi·1 hr·Avenue of the Saints
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
27
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
28
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
30
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
31
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
32
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
33
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2.5-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete the trip in a single morning or afternoon session. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the reliance on local roads like Willow Avenue and 3rd Street requires frequent turns that can be easy to miss if you aren't paying attention. Budgeting $21 for fuel is a safe estimate, but it is always wise to fill up before leaving Cresco to avoid searching for stations on smaller, less predictable roads. A helpful tip for this specific route is to preload your turn-by-turn directions, as the lack of highway signage can make keeping your bearings on local streets more challenging.
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 70.1 miles from Cresco, IA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.4 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 31 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.1 miles or 1h 41m 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 33m
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 Cresco, 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 Cresco, IA
This is one driving day of about 140.1 miles and 3h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Cresco, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 54.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
3.5 mi from route
~9 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 130.1
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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 132.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|3rd Street West
Turn left onto 3rd Street West
Navigation decision point
4
47.7 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|IA 3 / 230th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 230th Street
Navigation decision point
4
50.7 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|Y Avenue
Turn right onto Y Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
57.2 mi into trip|~1h 22m in|Walnut Street South
Turn right onto Walnut Street South
Navigation decision point
5
132.5 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
$21.90 one way
$43.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.05
$48.10
premium
$4.89
$26.96
$53.92
diesel
$5.61
$30.93
$61.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42
0
$14.71
$6.72
Efficient EV
35
0
$12.26
$5.60
EV Truck/SUV
56
0
$19.61
$8.97
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Cresco, IA
Morning
in Cresco on Sunday
Local time
11:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
11:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
70 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
27 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 6m 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 hands-on driving experience as this route consists entirely of local roads, meaning there is zero highway share. You will be maneuvering through a turn-heavy environment that demands constant engagement rather than the passive experience of an interstate grind. Because you are strictly on local thoroughfares, the character of the road remains consistent throughout the 140.5-mile journey. Without long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, your speed will naturally fluctuate as you navigate the specific turns required to reach your destination. This drive is defined by its intimacy with the local landscape, offering a practical, turn-by-turn connection between your starting point and Iowa City.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near 3rd Street West.
Driving Effort6/10
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 140.1 miles you will encounter 21 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 (3rd Street West): Navigation decision point; at 47.7 miles (IA 3 / 230th Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.7 miles (Y Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 6m. Total distance: 140.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Iowa City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (3rd Street West): Navigation decision point; at 47.7 miles (IA 3 / 230th Street): Navigation decision point; at 50.7 miles (Y Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
