Ida Grove, IA to Iowa City, IA is 251.5 miles and takes about 4h 57m via 220th Street and Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, moving from one part of Iowa to another. Expect a more local feel to this drive, rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a recommended one-day duration, you can comfortably make this drive without needing an overnight stay.
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
125.8 miles from Ida Grove, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
165.9 mi
3h 11m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
Market Avenue
8.2 mi
11m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
240th Street
2 mi
3m
160th Street
1.7 mi
1m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ida Grove, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street
111 ft·7 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Main Street
262 ft·5 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on Moorehead Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Moorehead Avenue
4
Turn straight onto North Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·North Main Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto Keystone Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·Keystone Avenue
6
Turn right onto 240th Street
2.0 mi·3 min·240th Street
7
Turn left onto CR M25
8.2 mi·11 min·Market Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 20
1.7 mi·1 min·160th Street
9
Continue on US 20
166 mi·3 hr 11 min·220th Street
10
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
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
13
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
15
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
16
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
17
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 57-minute duration, leaving Ida Grove in the morning allows ample time to reach Iowa City before evening. While the drive is manageable in one day, consider breaking it up with a stop if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The longest stretch of 165.9 miles on 220th Street means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye out for potential changes in road conditions or local traffic, especially as you approach more populated areas later in the drive.
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 125.8 miles from Ida Grove, IA, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 55 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.8 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
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 Ida Grove, 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 Ida Grove, IA
This is one driving day of about 251.5 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Ida Grove, 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 165.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$1 to $10
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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 243.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn left onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|Keystone Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Keystone Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
3.1 mi into trip|~7m in|CR M25 / Market Avenue
Turn left onto CR M25 / Market Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
178.9 mi into trip|~3h 31m 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
243.9 mi into trip|~4h 43m 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
$37.14 one way
$74.28 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.00
$82.00
premium
$4.72
$46.70
$93.39
diesel
$4.80
$47.49
$94.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.41
$12.07
Efficient EV
62.9
0
$22.01
$10.06
EV Truck/SUV
100.6
1
$35.21
$16.10
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Ida Grove, IA
Morning
in Ida Grove on Sunday
Local time
10:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 0 to 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
10:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Clear
W 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
86°F
Waterloo, IA
126 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
17 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
4h 57m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive, with only a 2% highway share. You'll experience a mix of road types, including stretches on 220th Street, Avenue of the Saints, and Market Avenue. The longest uninterrupted segment measures 165.9 miles on 220th Street, so plan for a significant portion of your journey to be on this road. Be prepared for more frequent turns and potential changes in speed limits as you navigate local roads.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.9 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Main 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 251.5 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: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Keystone Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (CR M25 / Market Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Hip and urban, Iowa City is a prominent college town primarily known as the home of the University of Iowa. Along with its adjacent suburb of Coralville, just to the west. Iowa City sits at the center of a metro area home to 171,000 people (2020) in the I-380 Corridor region of Eastern Iowa.
Top landmarks
•University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art — museum in Iowa City, Iowa
•Vogt House — historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
•First Johnson County Asylum — historic building located on the far west side of Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 251.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (2%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.9 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (Keystone Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 3.1 miles (CR M25 / Market Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
