If you are planning a quick excursion through the heart of the Midwest, the 74.4-mile trip from Iowa City to Dyersville is an ideal choice for a one-day outing. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 42 minutes behind the wheel, making it a manageable drive that doesn't require an overnight stop. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel should cover your travel costs, leaving you plenty of flexibility for your schedule. Because the route is entirely within Iowa, you will remain comfortably within the familiar regional landscape throughout the journey. It is a straightforward trip that works perfectly for those looking to reach their destination efficiently without unnecessary detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.2 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
25.2 mi
29m
State Highway 1
15.5 mi
21m
State Highway 136
13.1 mi
17m
Highway 1 Northeast
10.7 mi
14m
North Dodge Street
2.1 mi
4m
1st Avenue South
1.5 mi
2m
South Market Street
1.4 mi
2m
9th Street Southeast
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 25.2 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Dyersville, 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
2.1 mi·4 min·North Dodge Street
5
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi·10 min·Highway 1 Northeast
6
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi·2 min·South Market Street
7
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1 Northeast
8
Continue on IA 1
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 1
9
Enter roundabout onto IA 1
132 ft·5 sec·State Highway 1
10
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi·18 sec·State Highway 1
11
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Avenue South
12
Continue on IA 1
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 1
13
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
14
Merge onto US 151
25 mi·29 min·US 151
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
16
Turn left onto IA 136
8.6 mi·11 min·State Highway 136
17
Continue on IA 136
0.7 mi·1 min·1st Street South
18
Continue on IA 136
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 136
19
Continue on IA 136
1.2 mi·1 min·9th Street Southeast
20
Continue on US 52
495 ft·13 sec·11th Street Southeast
21
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Southeast
0.6 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue Southeast
22
Turn right onto 2nd Street Southeast
276 ft·5 sec·2nd Street Southeast
23
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Southeast
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the advantage of total flexibility regarding your departure time. You won't need to plan for formal stops given the modest drive duration, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before hitting the highway ensures you stay within your $11 budget. Because the route is primarily highway-based, stay alert during the transition points between US 151 and the state highways to ensure you don't miss your turn. Taking the drive in a single push is the most practical approach, as the duration is short enough that you won't need to worry about driver fatigue. Use the simplicity of this route to focus on a stress-free arrival at your destination.
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 37.2 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.2 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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.2 miles or 54m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dyersville, 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 74.4 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 151 for about 25.2 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 0.5 and 58.6 — 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
5
20.7 mi into trip|~32m in|IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
32.4 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
58.6 mi into trip|~1h 19m in|IA 136 / State Highway 136
Turn left onto IA 136 / State Highway 136
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.63 one way
$23.26 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.77
$25.54
premium
$4.89
$14.32
$28.64
diesel
$5.61
$16.43
$32.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.3
0
$7.81
$3.57
Efficient EV
18.6
0
$6.51
$2.98
EV Truck/SUV
29.8
0
$10.42
$4.76
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Iowa City, IA
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dyersville, IA
Morning
in Dyersville on Sunday
Local time
9:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Springville, IA
37 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
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 42m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 highway-focused drive relies heavily on US 151, State Highway 1, and State Highway 136 to navigate you across the state. With 87% of your travel occurring on highways, you should prepare for a consistent, steady pace rather than technical winding roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 25.2 miles along US 151, allowing for a predictable driving experience. As you transition between these main arteries, the road maintains a functional character suited for steady travel. You will find that the route's personality is defined by its efficiency, keeping you moving toward Dyersville with minimal friction.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on US 151.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 and State Highway 1. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near Church Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 42m drive. You will face about 10 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 20.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
993 ft667 ft
Total Climb
464 ft
Total Descent
181 ft
Highest Point
993 ft
~69.1 mi in
Elevation Range
326 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 74.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on US 151. 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 20.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dyersville, IA before heading back.
