Iowa City to Marcus is 280.3 miles and takes about 5h 36m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa from east to west. Given its duration and profile, this is a solid option for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate cruise. Plan for a straightforward drive across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
140.2 miles from Iowa City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
230 mi
4h 22m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.8 mi
12m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
490th Street
5 mi
7m
I 80
4.1 mi
4m
530th Street
3.1 mi
4m
500th Street
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 230 mi, about 4h 22m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Marcus, 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
4.1 mi·4 min·I 80
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
159 mi·3 hr 3 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
11
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
12
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
13
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
14
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
15
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi·2 min·V Avenue
16
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi·22 sec·State Highway 3
17
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi·4 min·530th Street
18
Turn right onto IA 3
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
19
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
20
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
21
Continue on IA 3
5.0 mi·7 min·490th Street
22
Turn right onto IA 143
1.2 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
23
Turn left onto East Cedar Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Cedar Street
24
Turn right onto North Main Street
67 ft·2 sec·North Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
With a total driving time of around 5 hours and 36 minutes, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to leave Iowa City in the morning to give yourself ample time. There's one recommended stop indicated for this trip, so consider breaking up the 280.3 miles there. The fuel cost is estimated at $44, so plan accordingly. Given the extensive surface road driving, keep an eye on your speed and be aware of local conditions, especially when transitioning from Avenue of the Saints onto State Highway 3.
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 140.2 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230 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 62 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 140.2 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marcus, 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 280.3 miles and 5h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 230 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 278.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218, IA 27
6
6.9 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar...
4
78.3 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
237.5 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
278.7 mi into trip|~5h 33m in|IA 143 / Ames Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Ames Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.60 one way
$93.21 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$50.76
$101.53
premium
$5.18
$57.20
$114.39
diesel
$5.35
$59.04
$118.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 98.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
84.1
1
$29.43
$13.45
Efficient EV
70.1
0
$24.53
$11.21
EV Truck/SUV
112.1
1
$39.24
$17.94
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Iowa City, IA
Afternoon
in Iowa City on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Marcus, IA
Afternoon
in Marcus on Wednesday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
ESE 10 mph1% chanceLive 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
6 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
5h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 6% of your time on highways, with the vast majority of the 280.3 miles on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 230 miles along Avenue of the Saints. After that, expect to transition to State Highway 3 and other surface roads. This means you'll likely notice more local traffic and potentially slower speed limits as you get closer to towns along the way.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 280.3 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,465 ft666 ft
Total Climb
857 ft
Total Descent
59 ft
Highest Point
1,465 ft
~280.3 mi in
Elevation Range
798 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 36m. Total distance: 280.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 230 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.3 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Marcus, IA before the return drive.
