Traveling from Denver to Iowa City covers 93.2 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 56 minutes. This straightforward Midwestern trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $14 on fuel for the journey, making this an economical option for your travel plans. You will navigate a mix of local roads like Logan Avenue and Dubuque Road, alongside the Avenue of the Saints. Since both towns reside within the Midwest, you can anticipate familiar terrain throughout the entire drive. It is a practical, no-fuss route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently without requiring a major time investment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.6 miles from Denver, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
65.3 mi
1h 12m
Logan Avenue
8.7 mi
11m
Dubuque Road
5.4 mi
7m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
Franklin Street
1.4 mi
2m
Larrabee Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
East Mullan Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 65.3 mi, about 1h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Denver, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on CR C50
40 ft·2 sec·West Fayette Street
2
Turn right onto State Street
0.8 mi·1 min·State Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 63
1.3 mi·1 min·Larrabee Avenue
4
Continue on US 63
8.7 mi·11 min·Logan Avenue
5
Continue on US 63
0.9 mi·2 min·East Mullan Avenue
6
Turn left onto Franklin Street
1.4 mi·2 min·Franklin Street
7
Continue on Dubuque Road
5.4 mi·7 min·Dubuque Road
8
Turn slight right
197 ft·7 sec
9
Turn straight onto CR V49
0.4 mi·39 sec·South 3rd Street
10
Continue on CR V49
0.7 mi·1 min·South Raymond Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
12
Merge onto I 380; US 20; IA 27
0.7 mi·45 sec·Avenue of the Saints
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
Given the total travel time of just under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While the route is short enough to drive in one go without scheduled stops, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Denver is smart to ensure you stay within your $14 budget. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive, you should double-check your navigation tools before heading out to ensure you are prepared for the transitions between Logan Avenue, Dubuque Road, and the Avenue of the Saints. Take advantage of the short duration to arrive in Iowa City refreshed rather than fatigued. Since there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily pull over whenever you need a break, allowing you to tailor the pacing of the trip to your own comfort level.
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 46.6 miles from Denver, IA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.3 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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.6 miles or 59m 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 32m
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 Denver, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Denver, IA
This is one driving day of about 93.2 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Denver, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 65.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 85.6 — 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|State Street
Turn right onto State Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|US 63 / Larrabee Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 63 / Larrabee Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
11.6 mi into trip|~16m in|Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
6
20.6 mi into trip|~30m 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
5
85.6 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
$14.57 one way
$29.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.00
$32.00
premium
$4.89
$17.94
$35.87
diesel
$5.61
$20.58
$41.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28
0
$9.79
$4.47
Efficient EV
23.3
0
$8.16
$3.73
EV Truck/SUV
37.3
0
$13.05
$5.96
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Denver, IA
Late night
in Denver on Sunday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
26 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 56m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as only about 4% of this route consists of highway travel. Your journey includes a significant 65.3-mile stretch along the Avenue of the Saints, which serves as the longest uninterrupted segment of your trip. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you should stay alert for frequent turns and changing road conditions. The character of the drive shifts from quieter local paths onto the more substantial Avenue of the Saints before transitioning back to the local roads needed to reach Iowa City. It is a hands-on driving experience that requires more focus than a typical high-speed freeway trek.
Only 4% 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: 65.3 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near State Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 93.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 (State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 63 / Larrabee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 93.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.3 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 (State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 63 / Larrabee Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (Franklin Street): 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.
