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Trip from Iowa City, IA to Asbury, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 57m

Distance

84.8 mi

136 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Asbury, IA, IA

Asbury, IA

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

This 84.8-mile drive from Iowa City, IA to Asbury, IA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in under two hours. Given its short duration and the fact that you'll spend about 79% of your time on highways, it's an ideal day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $13, making it an economical option for a quick getaway. You'll be traveling entirely within the Midwest region, staying within Iowa for the entirety of the trip. This route is perfect for those looking for a simple, efficient drive without the need for an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

42.4 miles from Iowa City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 151 33.8 mi 39m
State Highway 1 15.5 mi 21m
Highway 1 Northeast 10.7 mi 14m
Sundown Road 8.1 mi 14m
US 20 7.3 mi 9m
North Dodge Street 2.1 mi 4m
Northwest Arterial 1.9 mi 3m
1st Avenue South 1.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: US 151 — 33.8 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Asbury, IA.

1

Start on South Gilbert Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Gilbert Street
2

Turn right onto Church Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Church Street
3

Turn left onto IA 1

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Governor Street
4

Turn right onto IA 1

2.1 mi · 4 min · North Dodge Street
5

Continue on IA 1

7.5 mi · 10 min · Highway 1 Northeast
6

Continue on IA 1

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Market Street
7

Continue on IA 1

3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway 1 Northeast
8

Continue on IA 1

5.3 mi · 7 min · State Highway 1
9

Enter roundabout onto IA 1

132 ft · 5 sec · State Highway 1
10

Continue on IA 1

0.1 mi · 18 sec · State Highway 1
11

Continue on IA 1

1.5 mi · 2 min · 1st Avenue South
12

Continue on IA 1

10 mi · 13 min · State Highway 1
13

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
14

Merge onto US 151

34 mi · 39 min · US 151
15

Turn left onto CR Y21

8.1 mi · 14 min · Sundown Road
16

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward US 20 East, US 52 South
17

Merge onto US 20; US 52

7.3 mi · 9 min · US 20; US 52
18

Turn left onto Northwest Arterial

1.9 mi · 3 min · Northwest Arterial
19

Turn left onto Asbury Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Asbury Road
20

Arrive at destination

Asbury Road

Trip Plan

This is a manageable 1-day trip at just 1 hour and 57 minutes, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to maximize your time at your destination without feeling rushed. With no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief fuel or rest break if needed, perhaps midway through the longest stretch on US 151. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the 33.8-mile segment, to ensure a smooth journey to Asbury.

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 42.4 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 33.8 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 19 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 42.4 miles or 1h 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Asbury, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Iowa City, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Iowa City, IA

This is one driving day of about 84.8 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 151 for about 33.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Jones County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Anamosa, IA

42 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Mount Vernon, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Anamosa, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.4 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 74.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | Church Street

Turn right onto Church Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | IA 1 / North Governor Street

Turn left onto IA 1 / North Governor Street

Navigation decision point

5
20.7 mi into trip | ~32m in | IA 1 / State Highway 1

Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

4
32.4 mi into trip | ~48m in

Take the ramp

Navigation decision point

5
74.8 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in

Take the ramp toward US 20 East, US 52 South

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 20 East, US 52 South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.26 one way

$26.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.56 $29.11
premium $4.89 $16.32 $32.64
diesel $5.61 $18.72 $37.45

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.4 0 $8.90 $4.07
Efficient EV 21.2 0 $7.42 $3.39
EV Truck/SUV 33.9 0 $11.87 $5.43

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 14, 2026

Origin

Iowa City, IA

Late night in Iowa City on Sunday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

82°F

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

SW 15 mph 40% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT until April 20 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 11:55AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Asbury, IA

Late night in Asbury on Sunday

Local time

5:25 AM

CDT

Current temp

69°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

13 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

1h 57m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 79% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 33.8 miles on US 151, offering a consistent pace. This highway-focused profile suggests a generally smooth and efficient drive, likely with minimal delays. While not characterized by winding backroads, the journey offers a direct and predictable path, allowing you to cover ground quickly. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, prioritizing speed and directness.

79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.8 mi on US 151.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 and State Highway 1. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Church Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (IA 1 / North Governor Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 84.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 33.8 miles on US 151. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 0.5 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (IA 1 / North Governor Street): Navigation decision point; at 20.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Asbury, IA before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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