Planning a trip from Iowa City, IA to Audubon, IA? This 201.5-mile journey will take you about 3 hours and 48 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $31, it's an affordable option for a quick getaway within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads, suggesting a more engaging driving experience than a pure interstate haul. You'll be making just one planned stop along the way. This drive is well-suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
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
100.8 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
182.2 mi
3h 17m
Highway 71
14.3 mi
19m
North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
3m
Lincoln Street
1 mi
1m
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
South Market Street
0.6 mi
1m
650th Street
0.5 mi
<1m
US 6
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 182.2 mi, about 3h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Audubon, IA.
1
Start on South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·South Gilbert Street
2
Turn slight left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·22 sec·Kimball Road
3
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi·3 min·North Dubuque Street
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·58 sec
5
Merge onto I 80
120 mi·2 hr 10 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·50 sec·US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
8
Turn right onto US 71
0.5 mi·38 sec·650th Street
9
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi·3 min·Highway 71
10
Continue on US 71
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street
11
Continue on US 71
12 mi·16 min·Highway 71
12
Continue on US 71
0.6 mi·1 min·South Market Street
13
Arrive at destination
US 71
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 48-minute duration and the turn-heavy profile, consider an early morning departure from Iowa City to maximize your daylight. While this 201.5-mile drive is easily doable in a single day, the recommended one stop allows for a comfortable pace without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $31 estimated cost is based on consistent driving, and local roads can sometimes lead to slightly less efficient fuel consumption. A practical tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the specific turns indicated by your GPS, as the 'turn-heavy' nature means you'll be making frequent adjustments.
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 100.8 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 182.2 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 44 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.8 miles or 1h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Audubon, 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.
+
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 Iowa City, IA
This is one driving day of about 201.5 miles and 3h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Iowa City, 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 I 80 for about 182.2 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 184.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in|North Dubuque Street
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
Navigation decision point
3
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
5
2.5 mi into trip|~6m in|I 80
Merge onto I 80
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
122.4 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
5
184.7 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|US 6
Take the exit onto US 6 toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.50 one way
$63.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.59
$69.18
premium
$4.89
$38.78
$77.55
diesel
$5.61
$44.49
$88.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.4
0
$21.16
$9.67
Efficient EV
50.4
0
$17.63
$8.06
EV Truck/SUV
80.6
1
$28.21
$12.90
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 14, 2026
Origin
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 15 mph40% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Audubon, IA
Late night
in Audubon on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
101 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
33 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
3h 48m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as 'turn-heavy' and features a lower highway share at 0%, meaning you'll spend your time on local roads. You won't encounter any long, monotonous interstate stretches here. Instead, expect a more varied and potentially engaging experience with frequent turns as you navigate through the Iowa landscape. The absence of a longest uninterrupted stretch further emphasizes the local nature of this route, suggesting a continuous series of connections and transitions rather than long periods of cruising.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 182.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway 71. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near North Dubuque Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 48m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (North Dubuque Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 48m. Total distance: 201.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 182.2 miles on I 80. 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: at 0.9 miles (North Dubuque Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Audubon, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
