Iowa City to De Soto is 136.4 miles and takes about 2h 34m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, starting and ending in Iowa. Expect a straightforward drive with minimal complications, making it a simple choice for a quick transit between these two points. The route is predominantly highway, so it’s designed for efficient travel rather than a leisurely exploration. Consider this for a day trip or a quick leg of a longer journey.
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
68.2 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
132.8 mi
2h 24m
North Dubuque Street
1.2 mi
3m
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Guthrie Street
0.6 mi
1m
Maple Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Kimball Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 132.8 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and De Soto, 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
13 mi·14 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
8
Turn left onto US 6; US 169
481 ft·9 sec·North Avenue
9
Continue on US 6; US 169
0.6 mi·1 min·Guthrie Street
10
Turn left onto Maple Street
0.2 mi·35 sec·Maple Street
11
Arrive at destination
Maple Street
Trip Plan
For this 2h 34m drive, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach De Soto comfortably. With only 136.4 miles, you can easily complete this in one day with a fuel cost estimated around $21. The longest stretch is over 130 miles on I 80, so plan for one fuel or rest stop midway if needed, perhaps around the halfway point of the interstate portion. Since it’s a relatively short drive, you have flexibility in your departure time and can adjust your pace as you go.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.2 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.8 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 30 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.2 miles or 1h 18m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near De Soto, 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 136.4 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 132.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 136.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
135.3 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
4
135.6 mi into trip|~2h 32m in|US 6; US 169 / North Avenue
Turn left onto US 6; US 169 / North Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
136.3 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|Maple Street
Turn left onto Maple Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.32 one way
$42.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.41
$46.83
premium
$4.89
$26.25
$52.50
diesel
$5.61
$30.12
$60.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.9
0
$14.32
$6.55
Efficient EV
34.1
0
$11.94
$5.46
EV Truck/SUV
54.6
0
$19.10
$8.73
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 20, 2026
Origin
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Tuesday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
De Soto, IA
Late night
in De Soto on Tuesday
Local time
5:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Brooklyn, IA
68 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
4 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 34m 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 drive is primarily highway, with 97% of the 136.4 miles on I 80. You'll experience a very long stretch of 132.8 miles on I 80, meaning you'll be on the interstate for almost the entire trip. North Dubuque Street and South Gilbert Street account for the small portion on surface roads at the beginning. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate a consistent cruising speed with frequent exit and entrance ramps as you pass through the state.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and North Dubuque Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Iowa City, IA to De Soto, IA is easy. At 2h 34m with 97% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Hip and urban, Iowa City is a prominent college town primarily known as the home of the University of Iowa. Along with its adjacent suburb of Coralville, just to the west. Iowa City sits at the center of a metro area home to 171,000 people (2020) in the I-380 Corridor region of Eastern Iowa.
The longest stretch is about 132.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 2.5 miles (I 80): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 122.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 135.3 miles: 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 De Soto, IA before heading back.
