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Trip from Iowa City, IA to Story City, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 44m

Distance

137.3 mi

221 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 34m ★
6 AM
2h 44m
8 AM
3h 6m
10 AM
2h 52m
12 PM
2h 50m
3 PM
2h 53m
5 PM
3h 5m
8 PM
2h 38m

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

Best Time
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Story City, IA, IA

Story City, IA

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Iowa City, IA to Story City, IA covers 137.3 miles and takes about 2h 44m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Lincoln Highway, US 218, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.29 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

68.7 miles from Iowa City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lincoln Highway 65.7 mi 1h 16m
US 218 33.7 mi 39m
Avenue of the Saints 16 mi 17m
I 35 12.1 mi 13m
I 80 4.1 mi 4m
Broad Street 1.3 mi 2m
North Dubuque Street 1.2 mi 3m
South Gilbert Street 0.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Lincoln Highway — 65.7 mi, about 1h 16m

Traffic on I-380

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,524 veh/hr typical · worst 3,044

Quietest

2 AM

~145 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

17.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 65 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 Story City, 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

16 mi · 17 min · Avenue of the Saints
9

Take the exit onto US 218

34 mi · 39 min · US 218
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama
10

Continue on US 30

66 mi · 1 hr 16 min · Lincoln Highway
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
12

Merge onto I 35

12 mi · 13 min · I 35
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward Story City
14

Turn left onto CR E15

427 ft · 8 sec · 115th Street
15

Continue on CR E15

1.3 mi · 2 min · Broad Street
16

Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

51 ft · 2 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Pennsylvania Avenue

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.7 miles from Iowa City, IA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.7 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 30 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68.7 miles or 1h 23m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Story City, 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 137.3 miles and 2h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Lincoln Highway for about 65.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Tama County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tama, IA

69 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

Cedar Rapids, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Toledo, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.7 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 Lincoln Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.7 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 135.9 — 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...
5
23.5 mi into trip | ~30m in | US 218

Take the exit onto US 218 toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North: Tama

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

Toward US 30 West, US 151 South, US 218 North:...
4
122.9 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in

Take the exit toward I 35 North: Minneapolis

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
5
135.9 mi into trip | ~2h 41m in | CR E15 / 115th Street

Turn left onto CR E15 / 115th Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.29 one way

$42.57 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $23.34 $46.68
premium $4.93 $26.64 $53.28
diesel $5.60 $30.27 $60.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 41.2 0 $14.42 $6.59
Efficient EV 34.3 0 $12.01 $5.49
EV Truck/SUV 54.9 0 $19.22 $8.79

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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.

Forecast as of Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Iowa City, IA

Night in Iowa City on Wednesday

Local time

11:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Mostly Clear

S 5 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 1:46PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

Destination

Story City, IA

Night in Story City on Wednesday

Local time

11:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Partly Cloudy

S 7 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued September 1 at 3:52PM CDT until September 1 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 1:46PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

2h 44m 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?

137.3 mi in 2h 44m — 36% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: Lincoln Highway.

36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.7 mi on Lincoln Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 5/10

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 137.3 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 23.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,078 ft 666 ft

Total Climb

596 ft

Total Descent

256 ft

Highest Point

1,078 ft

~107.9 mi in

Elevation Range

412 ft

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

Waterloo

6.9 mi in | ~12m

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

Arriving in Story City, IA

Full guide →

Founded 1881

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 2h 44m. Total distance: 137.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 65.7 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 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 23.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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