If you are planning a quick excursion through the Midwest, the 76.8-mile journey from Elk Run Heights to Iowa City is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 16 minutes. You can easily complete this drive as a comfortable day trip, as it requires no overnight stays and minimal planning. Budgeting around $11 for fuel should cover your travel costs, leaving you plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Because both the origin and destination are located within Iowa, you will remain in a consistent regional landscape throughout the transit. This route serves as a practical connection between these two points, offering a hassle-free experience for travelers who prefer efficiency over long-distance touring.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Elk Run Heights, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
67.3 mi
1h 14m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Gilbertville Road
0.6 mi
1m
Evansdale Drive
0.5 mi
<1m
Kimball Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
South Gilbert Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 67.3 mi, about 1h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Run Heights, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on Gilbertville Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Gilbertville Road
2
Turn right onto Evansdale Drive
0.5 mi·55 sec·Evansdale Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
4
Merge onto I 380; US 20; IA 27
2.6 mi·3 min·Avenue of the Saints
5
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
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
10
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
11
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
12
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a short trip of just over an hour, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 76.8-mile distance without needing to build in scheduled stops for rest or refueling, though keeping your $11 fuel budget in mind is a smart move. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than major interstates, check your navigation frequently to stay on track during the turn-heavy portions of the drive. If you are prone to fatigue, even a quick stretch break after exiting Evansdale Drive can keep you refreshed for the remainder of the journey. Planning your departure to avoid peak local traffic will ensure you maintain the estimated 1 hour and 16 minute travel time.
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 38.3 miles from Elk Run Heights, IA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.3 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 17 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 44m 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 13m
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 Elk Run Heights, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elk Run Heights, IA
This is one driving day of about 76.6 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Elk Run Heights, 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 67.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 68.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Evansdale Drive
Turn right onto Evansdale Drive
Navigation decision point
4
1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
4 mi into trip|~6m 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
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
68.9 mi into trip|~1h 18m 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
$11.98 one way
$23.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.15
$26.30
premium
$4.89
$14.74
$29.48
diesel
$5.61
$16.91
$33.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.04
$3.68
Efficient EV
19.2
0
$6.70
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.72
$4.90
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Elk Run Heights, IA
Late night
in Elk Run Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:36 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
24 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 31m 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 on this 76.8-mile trek. You will navigate a mix of roads, beginning with Evansdale Drive before transitioning through the Avenue of the Saints and eventually connecting to I-80. Since there is no significant highway share, you should stay alert as the road conditions shift frequently between local stretches and larger corridors. Keep in mind that there is no single long-distance stretch on this path, as the longest segment on Evansdale Drive is effectively negligible. Navigating these transitions requires your full attention, as the character of the road changes periodically from the start in Elk Run Heights to your arrival in Iowa City.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 67.3 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 around 0.6 miles in near Evansdale Drive.
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 76.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.6 miles (Evansdale Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 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 1h 31m. Total distance: 76.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 67.3 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: at 0.6 miles (Evansdale Drive): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 4 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.
