This 328.5-mile journey from George, IA to Iowa City, IA will take approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost estimated at $51, this route is best suited for a single-day trip, though you might consider an overnight if you prefer a more leisurely pace. You'll primarily be on roads like 220th Street and Avenue of the Saints, with a smaller portion on 20th Avenue. The drive offers a local feel as you traverse through the heart of the Midwest. Plan for one main stop along the way to break up the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
164.3 miles from George, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
164.9 mi
3h 10m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.6 mi
11m
IA 60 Business
7.5 mi
9m
320th Street
6.3 mi
8m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
D Avenue
5.7 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 164.9 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between George, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on North Main Street
377 ft·17 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto East Boiler Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Boiler Avenue
3
Turn right onto South Virginia Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Virginia Street
4
Continue on L14
5.7 mi·8 min·L14
5
Continue on CR L14
3.8 mi·5 min·Kennedy Avenue
6
Continue on CR L14
0.5 mi·1 min·Colfax Street
7
Turn left onto US 18; CR L14
6.0 mi·8 min·320th Street
8
Continue on US 18
0.7 mi·58 sec·West Park Street
9
Continue on US 18
0.3 mi·29 sec·320th Street
10
Turn right onto Western Avenue
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto CR B20
360 ft·10 sec·West 16th Street
12
Turn right onto IA 60 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue
13
Take the ramp onto IA 60 Business
7.5 mi·9 min·IA 60 Business
14
Turn left onto L22
5.6 mi·7 min·Log Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Turn left onto IA 10
1.0 mi·1 min·460th Street
16
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·1 min·Garfield Street
17
Continue on IA 10
3.5 mi·4 min·460th Street
18
Turn right onto IA 143
5.0 mi·6 min·Nettle Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi·7 min·D Avenue
20
Continue on IA 143
1.3 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
21
Turn left onto IA 3
5.0 mi·6 min·490th Street
22
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
23
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
24
Turn straight onto IA 3
4.4 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
25
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·530th Street
26
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi·2 min·V Avenue
27
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
28
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
29
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
30
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
31
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
165 mi·3 hr 10 min·220th Street
33
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
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
35
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
36
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
37
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
38
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
39
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
40
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
41
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Starting your 6 hour and 45-minute drive early in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 328.5 miles to Iowa City. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive, pay close attention to your GPS, especially during the 164.9-mile stretch on 220th Street, as navigation is key. While the fuel cost is estimated at a manageable $51, it's always wise to top off your tank before leaving George, IA, as services might be less frequent on local roads. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to decide when and where to take a break.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.3 miles from George, IA, or about 3h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.9 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 72 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.3 miles or 3h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 34m
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 George, 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 George, IA
This is one driving day of about 328.5 miles and 6h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from George, 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 220th Street for about 164.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 19 and 320.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
19 mi into trip|~29m in|CR B20 / West 16th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR B20 / West 16th Street
Navigation decision point
6
27.2 mi into trip|~39m in|L22 / Log Avenue
Turn left onto L22 / Log Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
37.8 mi into trip|~54m in|IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
255.9 mi into trip|~5h 19m 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
320.9 mi into trip|~6h 31m 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
$51.36 one way
$102.71 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$56.39
$112.78
premium
$4.89
$63.22
$126.43
diesel
$5.61
$72.53
$145.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.6
1
$34.49
$15.77
Efficient EV
82.1
0
$28.74
$13.14
EV Truck/SUV
131.4
1
$45.99
$21.02
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 16, 2026
Origin
George, IA
Evening
in George on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Evening
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 45m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 for most of this 328.5-mile trip. With only 7% of the route on highways, you'll be navigating a more intimate, less traveled path. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 164.9 miles on 220th Street, so be prepared for extended periods on this particular road. This isn't a fast-paced interstate cruise; rather, it's a route that invites you to experience the landscape more directly, with frequent changes in direction and a more engaging driving experience.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 19 miles in near CR B20 / West 16th Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 328.5 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 19 miles (CR B20 / West 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.2 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 45m. Total distance: 328.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 45m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 164.9 miles on 220th Street. 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 19 miles (CR B20 / West 16th Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.2 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.8 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Iowa City, IA before the return drive.
