Origin
Iowa City, IA
Late night in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa City, IA to Grinnell, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 19m
Distance
67.1 mi
108 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 32m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Grinnell, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
Iowa City to Grinnell is 67.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 19 minutes via I 80, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive stays within the Midwest, specifically Iowa, making it a simple hop between two familiar points. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, so expect a consistent pace. If you're looking for a quick trip with minimal fuss, this route delivers exactly that, allowing you to reach your destination without a major time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 60.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| West Street South | 3.2 mi | 5m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| South Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 4th Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Kimball Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Park Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 60.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Grinnell, 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
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
I 80
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon
Use the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto IA 146
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
West Street South
8
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
4th Avenue
9
Turn right onto Park Street
67 ft
·
2 sec
·
Park Street
10
Arrive at destination
Park Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.6 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 60.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Dubuque Street
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
Navigation decision point
7
63.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon
4
63.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
|
IA 146 / West Street South
Turn right onto IA 146 / West Street South
Navigation decision point
4
66.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
4th Avenue
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
Park Street
Turn right onto Park Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.49 one way
$20.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.52 | $23.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.91 | $25.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.81 | $29.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.05 | $3.22 |
| Efficient EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.8 | 0 | $9.39 | $4.29 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Destination
Grinnell, IA
Late night in Grinnell on Sunday
Local time
2:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Williamsburg, IA
34 mi in
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
24 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 19m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 91% of the journey on major interstates and roads like I 80, West Street South, and North Dubuque Street. You'll experience a long stretch of 60.9 miles primarily on I 80, which means a consistent speed and little variation in the driving experience for a significant portion of the trip. The character is largely that of a functional interstate commute, designed for efficient travel rather than scenic exploration.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.9 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and West Street South. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in near North Dubuque Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Iowa City, IA to Grinnell, IA is easy. At 1h 19m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (North Dubuque Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.7 miles (IA 146 / West Street South): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Grinnell, IA, road signs begin pointing toward New Sharon along the way.
New Sharon
63.4 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 19m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.9 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 0.9 miles (North Dubuque Street): Navigation decision point; at 63.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 63.7 miles (IA 146 / West Street South): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Grinnell, IA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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