If you are planning a trip from Iowa City to Clarion, expect a journey covering 172.8 miles that typically takes about 3 hours and 27 minutes. This route stays entirely within the Midwest, keeping you in the state of Iowa for the duration of your travel. Given the manageable duration, this trip is perfectly suited as a one-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can budget approximately $26 for fuel to complete the drive. Because it is a turn-heavy local drive, it is best to view this as a practical transit between two points rather than a high-speed interstate sprint. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a single day of travel.
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
86.4 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m 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
I 80
4.1 mi
4m
220th Street
4 mi
5m
North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
3m
Central Avenue East
0.9 mi
1m
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Kimball Road
<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 Clarion, 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 left onto IA 3
4.0 mi·5 min·220th Street
13
Continue on IA 3
0.9 mi·1 min·Central Avenue East
14
Arrive at destination
IA 3
Trip Plan
Because this is a turn-heavy route, it is wise to plan your departure for daylight hours to ensure you can clearly see the transitions between local roads. You should factor in at least one planned stop during your 3-hour and 27-minute trek to stretch your legs and refresh yourself. Keep your navigation system running, as the lack of highway travel means you will be making frequent adjustments to your route. Budgeting the $26 for fuel ahead of time will help you focus on the road instead of searching for stations at the last minute. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so if you find yourself needing an extra break, you have plenty of time to build that into your schedule without ruining your arrival plans.
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 86.4 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 41m 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.4 miles or 1h 41m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clarion, 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 172.8 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 167.9 — 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
4
167.9 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|IA 3 / 220th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 220th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.02 one way
$54.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.66
$59.32
premium
$4.89
$33.25
$66.51
diesel
$5.61
$38.15
$76.30
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.8
0
$18.14
$8.29
Efficient EV
43.2
0
$15.12
$6.91
EV Truck/SUV
69.1
0
$24.19
$11.06
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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 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
Clarion, IA
Night
in Clarion on Saturday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
86 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
1 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 27m 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?
Prepare for a drive that trades interstate monotony for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. You will navigate a series of local roads, including Kimball Road and North Dubuque Street, before utilizing I-380 to make progress. Since the highway share is 0%, you should anticipate a route defined by frequent turns and changing road conditions rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of high-speed cruising. The character of this journey is decidedly local, requiring your full attention as you transition between different road types. Expect a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged as you wind your way through the Iowa landscape toward your destination.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 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 10 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 172.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 27m. Total distance: 172.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m 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 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Clarion, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
