This 176.8-mile drive from Iowa City, IA, to Belmond, IA, will take you approximately 3 hours and 33 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate using Kimball Road and North Dubuque Street before merging onto I-380. With a projected fuel cost of $27, this journey through the Midwest is budget-friendly. Expect a route with frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway, so plan for a more engaged driving experience. This route is perfect for those who prefer a less direct path and enjoy seeing more of the local landscape.
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
88.4 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
140.5 mi
2h 39m
Little Wall Lake Road
19.5 mi
26m
US 69
8 mi
11m
I 80
4.1 mi
4m
North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
3m
220th Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 140.5 mi, about 2h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Belmond, 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
4.1 mi·4 min·I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
70 mi·1 hr 20 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 69
11
Turn right onto US 69
19 mi·26 min·Little Wall Lake Road
12
Turn right onto US 69; IA 3
0.8 mi·1 min·220th Street
13
Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3
8.0 mi·11 min·US 69; IA 3
14
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·East Main Street
15
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast
61 ft·2 sec·2nd Avenue Northeast
16
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue Northeast
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 33-minute duration, departing from Iowa City in the morning allows ample time to reach Belmond without feeling rushed. With only one stop recommended and a 'turn-heavy' profile, keep your navigation handy and be ready for frequent adjustments. The $27 fuel cost is quite reasonable, so ensure your tank is full before you set out. Pay close attention to your GPS or maps, as the numerous turns on local roads mean you'll want to be precise with your directions to avoid getting off track on this 176.8-mile journey.
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 88.4 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 140.5 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 39 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.4 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmond, 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 176.8 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 140.5 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 176.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
4
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
148 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 69
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 69
5
176.8 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|2nd Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.64 one way
$55.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.35
$60.70
premium
$4.89
$34.02
$68.05
diesel
$5.61
$39.04
$78.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.56
$8.49
Efficient EV
44.2
0
$15.47
$7.07
EV Truck/SUV
70.7
0
$24.75
$11.32
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
9:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Belmond, IA
Morning
in Belmond on Sunday
Local time
9:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
88 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
26 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 33m 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 route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with a 0% highway share. You won't find yourself on long, monotonous interstate stretches here. Instead, anticipate a more dynamic driving experience that involves numerous turns and changes in direction as you make your way through the Iowa landscape. There isn't a defined 'longest stretch' given, suggesting the entire 176.8 miles will be a continuous series of local roads and turns, requiring your full attention from start to finish.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 140.5 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
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 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in.
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 176.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 176.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 140.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Belmond, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
