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Trip from Iowa City, IA to Orange, 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 39m

Distance

82.9 mi

133 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 32m ★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Orange, IA, IA

Orange, IA

Laura Lumimaa

Trip Overview

Iowa City, IA to Orange, IA is 82.9 miles and takes about 1h 39m via Avenue of the Saints and I 80, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within the Midwest, connecting two points in Iowa. Given its short duration, it's an ideal same-day trip, perfect for a leisurely start or an afternoon arrival. You'll spend most of your time on main roads, so expect a practical, no-frills journey.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

41.5 miles from Iowa City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 72.5 mi 1h 20m
I 80 4.1 mi 4m
Hawkeye Road 1.8 mi 2m
North Dubuque Street 1.2 mi 3m
South Gilbert Street 0.8 mi 2m
East Orange Road 0.5 mi <1m
Kimball Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Kimball Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 72.5 mi, about 1h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City, IA and Orange, 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

1.7 mi · 1 min · Avenue of the Saints
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
11

Turn left

102 ft · 8 sec
Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart Use the left lane.
12

Turn left onto IA 21

1.8 mi · 2 min · Hawkeye Road
13

Turn right onto East Orange Road

0.5 mi · 59 sec · East Orange Road
14

Turn left onto Kimball Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Kimball Avenue
15

Arrive at destination

Kimball Avenue

Trip Plan

With a drive time under two hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing Iowa City mid-morning to avoid rush hour and arrive in Orange with plenty of daylight. There are no designated stops mentioned, so plan for a quick fuel or restroom break if needed, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your navigation system, as the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests you'll be making several directional changes.

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 41.5 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 72.5 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 18 miles or 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 41.5 miles or 51m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange, 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 82.9 miles and 1h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 72.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hiawatha, IA

41 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

North Liberty, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hiawatha, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 41.5 miles from Iowa City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 72.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+13193587342

Visit website

Steak 'n Shake

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Coralville, Iowa

0.1 mi

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Coralville, Iowa

0.2 mi

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+13193587342

Visit website

Steak 'n Shake

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 5.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13198006117

Visit website

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 5.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13195453131

Visit website

Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $50 to $60

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13193372048

Visit website

Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $50 to $10

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 5–9 pm

+13193541642

Visit website

SAIGON'S CORNER Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13193337233

Visit website

Red Lobster

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 5.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+13193386400

Visit website

Szechuan House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+13193386788

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 5.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 23.7

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 29.6

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 77

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 11.8

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 41.5

Center Point, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargeLab Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

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 80.4 — 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

5
80 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
6
80.4 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Turn left toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.96 one way

$25.92 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $14.23 $28.46
premium $4.89 $15.95 $31.91
diesel $5.61 $18.30 $36.61

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$13

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 29 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.9 0 $8.70 $3.98
Efficient EV 20.7 0 $7.25 $3.32
EV Truck/SUV 33.2 0 $11.61 $5.31

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 kg (66% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Iowa City, IA

Late night in Iowa City on Sunday

Local time

5:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Orange, IA

Late night in Orange on Sunday

Local time

5:16 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live 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

2 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 39m 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 route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction rather than long, straight stretches. With only a 5% highway share, anticipate a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted segment is 72.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints, offering a good period of consistent travel before navigating more local roads. Expect to be actively steering and navigating as you transition between different local routes.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 72.5 mi on Avenue of the Saints.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

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 Effort 6/10

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 82.9 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.

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 Orange, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Waterloo along the way.

Waterloo

6.9 mi in | ~12m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 82.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 72.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Orange, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

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 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Orange, 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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