Traveling from Eldora to Iowa City is a straightforward 125.6-mile journey that takes approximately 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because the route is relatively short, you can easily tackle this drive in a single day without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Edgington Avenue, County Road S56, and South 1st Street, moving entirely within the Midwest region of Iowa. Budgeting around $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the trip. Since there are no required stops, this route offers a great deal of flexibility for your schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this direct path serves as a practical connection between these two Iowa communities.
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
62.7 miles from Eldora, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
US 20
44.1 mi
50m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
County Road S56
3.5 mi
6m
County Highway S56
3.3 mi
5m
Edgington Avenue
1 mi
2m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Eldora, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on Washington Street
69 ft·9 sec·Washington Street
2
Turn left onto IA 175
1.0 mi·2 min·Edgington Avenue
3
Turn left onto CR S56
3.5 mi·6 min·County Road S56
4
Continue on South 1st Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·South 1st Street
5
Continue on County Highway S56
3.3 mi·5 min·County Highway S56
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
7
Merge onto US 20
44 mi·50 min·US 20
8
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
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
11
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
13
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
14
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
15
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 4-minute duration, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your leisure without worrying about complex trip pacing. Since there are no planned stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up and ready to go before you leave Eldora to avoid mid-trip delays. Keep in mind that because this route relies entirely on local roads, your travel time may be more sensitive to local traffic patterns than a typical highway drive. A concrete tip for this trip is to keep your navigation tools handy, as the turn-heavy nature of the route requires frequent adjustments. Enjoy the simplicity of this short Iowa excursion by planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic hours.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.7 miles from Eldora, IA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 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 28 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 18m 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 2m
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 Eldora, 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 Eldora, IA
This is one driving day of about 125.4 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Eldora, 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 64.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 117.8 — 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 175 / Edgington Avenue
Turn left onto IA 175 / Edgington Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|CR S56 / County Road S56
Turn left onto CR S56 / County Road S56
Navigation decision point
6
52.8 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
117.5 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 19m 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
$19.60 one way
$39.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.53
$43.05
premium
$4.89
$24.13
$48.26
diesel
$5.61
$27.69
$55.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$10.97
$5.02
EV Truck/SUV
50.2
0
$17.56
$8.03
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Eldora, IA
Late night
in Eldora on Sunday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
63 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
25 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
2h 33m 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 grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You won't find any long, high-speed stretches, with the longest segment consisting of 0 miles on Edgington Avenue. The personality of this drive is defined by consistent local maneuvering rather than open-road cruising. You should prepare for a steady pace that requires your full attention as you transition between local roads. It is a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and navigation take center stage over highway speed.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 IA 175 / Edgington Avenue.
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 125.4 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 (IA 175 / Edgington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR S56 / County Road S56): Navigation decision point; at 52.8 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 125.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.7 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.
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: near the start (IA 175 / Edgington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (CR S56 / County Road S56): Navigation decision point; at 52.8 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa City, IA before heading back.
