Spanning 87.5 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Iowa City to Clinton is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 46 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel, making this an economical choice for a quick regional trip. The route stays entirely within the Midwest, moving across the state of Iowa via a mix of major corridors. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, the simplicity of the path allows for a stress-free travel experience. Planning for a one-day turnaround is highly recommended given the manageable duration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.7 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
48.9 mi
53m
US 30
16.2 mi
19m
North Brady Street
14.5 mi
16m
Manufacturing Drive
1.6 mi
2m
North Dodge Street
1.4 mi
2m
South Bluff Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
2nd Avenue South
0.9 mi
2m
South Gilbert Street
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 Clinton, 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
15 mi·16 min·North Brady Street
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto US 30
16 mi·19 min·US 30
11
Turn left onto Manufacturing Drive
1.6 mi·2 min·Manufacturing Drive
12
Continue on South Bluff Boulevard
1.4 mi·2 min·South Bluff Boulevard
13
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South
0.9 mi·2 min·2nd Avenue South
14
Arrive at destination
2nd Avenue South
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving during off-peak hours will help you maintain consistent speeds on the highway. You won't need to plan for lengthy rest stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the longer 48.9-mile stretch of I-80 to avoid unnecessary detours. Because the route relies heavily on major highways, check traffic reports for I-80 specifically, as congestion can occasionally impact your total travel time. Use the $13 fuel estimate as a baseline for your budget, but consider filling up in Iowa City before you depart to ensure you have enough range for the entire 87.5-mile duration.
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 43.7 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 51m 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.7 miles or 51m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clinton, 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 87.5 miles and 1h 46m.
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 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 83.6 — 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
3
2.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
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
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|Manufacturing Drive
Turn left onto Manufacturing Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.68 one way
$27.36 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$15.02
$30.04
premium
$4.89
$16.84
$33.68
diesel
$5.61
$19.32
$38.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.19
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.66
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.25
$5.60
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clinton, IA
Night
in Clinton on Saturday
Local time
11:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
2 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 46m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 75% of your time spent on major arteries like I-80, US-30, and North Brady Street. You will settle into a steady rhythm early on, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 48.9 miles on I-80. While the interstate segments provide a fast and efficient pace, the transition to US-30 and local roads like North Brady Street shifts the feel of the drive as you approach Clinton. Expect a functional, high-speed experience rather than a winding backroad adventure. Navigating these primary roads ensures a predictable transit, keeping your focus on the road ahead as the landscape transitions through the heart of the state.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 30. 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 1h 46m drive. You will face about 9 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 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Clinton, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dewitt 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. 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 2.7 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Clinton, IA before heading back.
