Connecting Iowa Falls to Iowa City, this 134.7-mile journey is a straightforward Midwest transit that typically takes about 2 hours and 41 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $20 for fuel to complete the drive comfortably. Navigating a mix of local roads like Oak Street and larger thoroughfares such as US 20 and the Avenue of the Saints, you will experience a steady transition across the Iowa landscape. It is an efficient path that avoids the complexity of longer cross-country treks while providing a reliable connection between two distinct parts of the state.
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
67.4 miles from Iowa Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
US 20
55.9 mi
1h 4m
Oak Street
5.1 mi
8m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Kimball Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 64.7 mi, about 1h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft·11 sec·Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
5.1 mi·8 min·Oak Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 20
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
9
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
11
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
12
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
13
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
14
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to account for the total 2-hour and 41-minute duration, leaving early enough to avoid peak traffic on local roads. Since the route only requires one stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where you want to break up the 134.7-mile drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, keeping that $20 estimate in mind as you navigate the transition from US 20 to the Avenue of the Saints. Because this is a relatively short trip, you can easily adjust your pace to suit your personal schedule. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prioritize your single planned stop during the transition off the longest stretch of the Avenue of the Saints to maximize your momentum.
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 67.4 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.7 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 67.4 miles or 1h 21m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Iowa City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Iowa Falls, 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 Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 134.7 miles and 2h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 64.7 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 0.1 and 127.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East Rocksylvania Avenue
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
62.1 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
4
126.8 mi into trip|~2h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.06 one way
$42.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.12
$46.24
premium
$4.89
$25.92
$51.84
diesel
$5.61
$29.74
$59.48
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: 47.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.4
0
$14.14
$6.47
Efficient EV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
EV Truck/SUV
53.9
0
$18.86
$8.62
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 16, 2026
Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Late night
in Iowa Falls on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
67 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
23 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
2h 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed-drive experience that balances local road navigation with more efficient highway travel. Roughly 45% of your journey will be spent on highways, providing a nice contrast to the slower-paced segments through town centers. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 64.7-mile stretch along the Avenue of the Saints, which serves as the longest uninterrupted leg of the trip. As you move from the initial local streets onto these faster roads, the driving rhythm shifts noticeably. You will encounter a variety of road conditions, requiring you to remain alert as you transition between the higher-speed highway zones and the more constrained local roadways.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
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 0.1 miles in near East Rocksylvania Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 134.7 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 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 41m. Total distance: 134.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.7 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 Iowa City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Rocksylvania Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa City, IA before heading back.
