Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Greenfield, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 18m
Distance
173.4 mi
279 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 28m
5 PM
3h 41m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Greenfield, IA
Sam McCool
Trip Overview
Iowa City to Greenfield is 173.4 miles and takes about 3h 18m via I 80 and State Highway 25, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward drive. Given its profile as mostly highway, you can expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. It's a single-day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations.
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
86.7 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 156.7 mi | 2h 50m |
| State Highway 25 | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Northeast 6th Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Southeast Kent Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Public Square | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 1st Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 156.7 mi, about 2h 50m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,239 veh/hr typical · worst 2,656
Quietest
2 AM
~192 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Greenfield, 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
37 mi
·
39 min
·
I 80
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward IA 25: Guthrie Center, Greenfield
8
Turn left onto IA 25
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 25
9
Continue on IA 25
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast 6th Street
10
Turn right onto IA 92
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Southeast Kent Street
11
Turn right onto South 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
South 1st Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto Public Square
117 ft
·
5 sec
·
Public Square
13
Continue on Public Square
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Public Square
14
Arrive at destination
Public Square
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, single-day drive of just over 3 hours, you have flexibility in your departure time. Leaving Iowa City in the morning will get you to Greenfield with plenty of daylight to spare. The longest stretch without services is the 156.7 miles on I 80, so ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on that segment. You'll find the transition from I 80 to State Highway 25 marks the point where you'll want to be more aware of upcoming exits and potential rest stops.
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 86.7 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.7 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.7 miles or 1h 38m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenfield, 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 173.4 miles and 3h 18m.
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 I 80 for about 156.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.7 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 156.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
QuikTrip
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Love's
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Rest Area
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.7 mi from route
Casey's Truck Stop
1.7 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 173.3 — 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
159.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward IA 25: Guthrie Center, Greenfield
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 25: Guthrie Center, Greenfield
4
159.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 58m in
|
IA 25 / State Highway 25
Turn left onto IA 25 / State Highway 25
Navigation decision point
6
173.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
Public Square
At end of road, turn right onto Public Square
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.83 one way
$57.66 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $31.40 | $62.81 |
| premium | $5.18 | $35.38 | $70.77 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $36.52 | $73.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52 | 0 | $18.21 | $8.32 |
| Efficient EV | 43.4 | 0 | $15.17 | $6.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.28 | $11.10 |
Gas CO2
61 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.
Origin
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon in Iowa City on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 to 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Greenfield, IA
Afternoon in Greenfield on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 9 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
88°F
Melbourne, IA
87 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
2 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
3h 18m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of the 173.4 miles on freeways. You'll experience a long stretch of 156.7 miles on I 80, offering uninterrupted cruising. State Highway 25 will eventually lead you off the interstate for the final portion of the drive, transitioning to surface roads.
98% 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: 156.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and State Highway 25. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 18m 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 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 159.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,373 ft
666 ft
Total Climb
1,042 ft
Total Descent
335 ft
Highest Point
1,373 ft
~173.4 mi in
Elevation Range
707 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Iowa City, IA
Full guide →Founded 1839
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.
Top landmarks
- • University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art — museum in Iowa City, Iowa
- • Vogt House — historic building located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States
- • First Johnson County Asylum — historic building located on the far west side of Iowa City, Iowa, United States
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 18m. Total distance: 173.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.7 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 159.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Greenfield, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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