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Trip from Iowa City, IA to Pella, 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 57m

Distance

96.7 mi

156 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 52m

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

city in Marion County, Iowa, United States

Pella, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick Midwestern getaway, the drive from Iowa City to Pella is an ideal day trip. Spanning 96.7 miles, this journey typically takes about 1 hour and 57 minutes, making it highly manageable for a single day of travel. You can expect to spend approximately $15 on fuel, keeping your travel costs low. The route relies primarily on I-80, Highway T14 South, and Highway T22 South to bridge the gap between these two Iowa hubs. Because the total duration is under two hours, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. It is a straightforward, practical route that serves as a perfect escape from the city without requiring extensive logistical planning.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

48.3 miles from Iowa City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 70.1 mi 1h 15m
Highway T14 South 11.5 mi 15m
Highway T22 South 7.2 mi 10m
Highway F62 East 3.2 mi 4m
Main Street 1.6 mi 2m
North Dubuque Street 1.2 mi 3m
South Gilbert Street 0.8 mi 2m
County Highway T22 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 70.1 mi, about 1h 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

70 mi · 1 hr 15 min · I 80
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Toward IA 224: Kellogg, Sully
7

Turn left onto IA 224

0.1 mi · 12 sec · County Highway T22
8

Continue on Highway T22 South

5.1 mi · 7 min · Highway T22 South
9

Continue on CR T22

2.1 mi · 3 min · Highway T22 South
10

Turn right onto CR F62

3.2 mi · 4 min · Highway F62 East
11

At end of road, turn left onto CR T14

11 mi · 15 min · Highway T14 South
12

Continue on CR T14

1.6 mi · 2 min · Main Street
13

Turn left onto Washington Street

40 ft · 1 sec · Washington Street
14

Arrive at destination

Washington Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aiming for a mid-morning start allows you to complete the nearly two-hour journey comfortably before the lunch hour. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled along this 96.7-mile path, you can easily tackle the entire distance in one go. Keep in mind that your fuel budget is based on a modest $15 estimate, so filling up before you leave Iowa City ensures you won't need to worry about finding a pump mid-route. As a specific tip, prioritize your timing around the 70.1-mile interstate stretch, as this portion is where you will spend the majority of your time and potential traffic congestion could occur.

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 48.3 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 21 miles or 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.3 miles or 56m 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 32m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pella, 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 96.7 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Iowa City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 70.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brooklyn, IA

48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brooklyn, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.3 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 I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.1 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

Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Iowa City, Iowa

0.1 mi

Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.4 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

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

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

Masala Indian Cuisine

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13193386199

Visit website

Le Gourmet Korean Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

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

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+13194710959

Visit website

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 6.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13195453131

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

Electrify America Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 27.6

Williamsburg, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 62.1

Grinnell, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 6.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

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

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour

Iowa City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 96.6 — 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

5
72.6 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in

Take the exit toward IA 224: Kellogg, Sully

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

Toward IA 224: Kellogg, Sully
4
73 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in | IA 224 / County Highway T22

Turn left onto IA 224 / County Highway T22

Navigation decision point

4
83.5 mi into trip | ~1h 38m in | CR T14 / Highway T14 South

At end of road, turn left onto CR T14 / Highway T14 South

Navigation decision point

4
96.6 mi into trip | ~1h 57m in | Washington Street

Turn left onto Washington Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.12 one way

$30.24 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.60 $33.20
premium $4.89 $18.61 $37.22
diesel $5.61 $21.35 $42.70

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29 0 $10.15 $4.64
Efficient EV 24.2 0 $8.46 $3.87
EV Truck/SUV 38.7 0 $13.54 $6.19

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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

Morning in Iowa City on Sunday

Local time

9:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pella, IA

Morning in Pella on Sunday

Local time

9:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

50°F

Brooklyn, IA

48 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

3 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 57m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 73% of your travel spent on high-speed roads. You will settle in for a 70.1-mile stretch on I-80, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. Once you exit the interstate, the character of the road shifts as you transition onto local highways like T14 and T22. Expect a blend of fast-paced interstate cruising followed by a more localized experience as you head toward your destination. The driving feel is consistent and efficient, allowing you to cover the bulk of the 96.7-mile distance with minimal navigation stress.

73% 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: 70.1 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Highway T14 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 Pella, IA is easy. At 1h 57m with 73% 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 72.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73 miles (IA 224 / County Highway T22): Navigation decision point.

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 Pella, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Sully along the way.

Sully

72.6 mi in | ~1h 22m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 96.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.1 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 72.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73 miles (IA 224 / County Highway T22): Navigation decision point.

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