If you are planning a trip from Iowa City to Bellevue, expect a straightforward journey covering 107.4 miles. You can easily complete this drive in about 2 hours and 14 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budget roughly $16 for fuel to cover the distance across the Iowa landscape. Since the trip is relatively short, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics or mid-route accommodations. Both cities are located within the Midwest, ensuring a familiar regional feel as you head toward your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.7 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
48.9 mi
53m
North Brady Street
32.5 mi
37m
Ansel Briggs Highway
17.9 mi
26m
North Dodge Street
1.4 mi
2m
State Street
1.2 mi
2m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
East Platt Street
0.9 mi
1m
200th Avenue
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 48.9 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Bellevue, 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
1.4 mi·2 min·North Dodge Street
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
49 mi·53 min·I 80
7
Take the exit onto US 61
0.3 mi·42 sec·US 61
Toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt
8
Merge onto US 61
33 mi·37 min·North Brady Street
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward South Main Street
10
Turn right onto 200th Avenue
0.5 mi·59 sec·200th Avenue
11
Continue on South Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
12
Turn right onto IA 64
0.9 mi·1 min·East Platt Street
13
Turn left onto IA 62
6.5 mi·9 min·Ansel Briggs Highway
14
Continue on IA 62
0.5 mi·44 sec·South Jefferson Street
15
Continue on IA 62
11 mi·16 min·Ansel Briggs Highway
16
Continue on IA 62
1.2 mi·2 min·State Street
17
Turn right onto US 52
38 ft·1 sec·South Riverview Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 52
Trip Plan
Because this drive takes just over two hours, you have the flexibility to leave in the morning or early afternoon without feeling rushed. You won't need to plan for any mandatory stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Iowa City to ensure you stay within your $16 budget. Since the route utilizes specific roads like the Ansel Briggs Highway, pay close attention to signage when transitioning off I-80. Having your navigation ready before you exit the interstate will make your transition onto local roads much smoother. Enjoy the simplicity of this short trek and the ease of reaching Bellevue in a single, focused push.
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 53.7 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.9 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 24 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.7 miles or 1h 3m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bellevue, 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 107.4 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 48.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 86.9 — 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
52 mi into trip|~1h in|US 61
Take the exit onto US 61 toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt
4
84.8 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward South Main Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward South Main Street
4
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|IA 64 / East Platt Street
Turn right onto IA 64 / East Platt Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.79 one way
$33.58 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.44
$36.87
premium
$4.89
$20.67
$41.34
diesel
$5.61
$23.71
$47.43
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.2
0
$11.28
$5.16
Efficient EV
26.9
0
$9.40
$4.30
EV Truck/SUV
43
0
$15.04
$6.87
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Iowa City, IA
Night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bellevue, IA
Night
in Bellevue on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 14m 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?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that transitions from faster interstate travel to local highway navigation. You will spend roughly 46% of your time on highways, beginning with a significant 48.9-mile stretch on I-80. After leaving the interstate, the route shifts to North Brady Street and the Ansel Briggs Highway, which helps break up the monotony of the initial highway leg. Be prepared for the change in pace as you move off the main interstate and onto these secondary roads. The drive provides a balance between high-speed cruising and more grounded, regional road travel.
46% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Church Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 14m 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 52 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Iowa City, IA to Bellevue, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dewitt along the way.
Dewitt
52 mi in|~1h|via US 61
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 107.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 48.9 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.5 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (IA 1 / North Governor Street): Navigation decision point; at 52 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bellevue, IA before heading back.
