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Trip from Keokuk, IA to Iowa City, 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 58m

Distance

93.9 mi

151 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m

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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Downtown Keokuk, IA, IA

Keokuk, IA

Egor Komarov

city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Keokuk, IA to Iowa City, IA is 93.9 miles and takes about 1h 58m via Avenue of the Saints, US 218, and US 61, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa for its entirety. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With less than two hours of driving, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and pacing.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

47 miles from Keokuk, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 70.7 mi 1h 21m
US 218 9.7 mi 14m
US 61 5.6 mi 6m
Main Street 3.5 mi 5m
South Gilbert Street 1.1 mi 2m
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast 0.9 mi 1m
South Riverside Drive 0.7 mi 1m
Old Highway 218 South 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 70.7 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 136

3.5 mi · 5 min · Main Street
2

Continue on US 61; US 218

5.6 mi · 6 min · US 61; US 218
3

Turn left onto US 218

9.2 mi · 13 min · US 218
4

Take the ramp onto US 218

0.4 mi · 57 sec · US 218
5

Merge onto US 218; IA 27

27 mi · 30 min · Avenue of the Saints
6

Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27

44 mi · 51 min · Avenue of the Saints
7

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward Airport
8

Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast

0.9 mi · 1 min · Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
9

Continue on Old Highway 218 South

0.6 mi · 1 min · Old Highway 218 South
10

Continue on South Riverside Drive

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Riverside Drive
11

Turn right onto US 6

0.4 mi · 1 min · Highway 6 East
12

Turn left onto South Gilbert Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Gilbert Street
13

Arrive at destination

South Gilbert Street

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short distance of 93.9 miles and a drive time under two hours, you have ample flexibility for when to depart. Aiming for a morning start allows you to arrive in Iowa City with plenty of the day remaining. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 70.7-mile stretch on Avenue of the Saints, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. Since this is a single-day trip, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations, and you can easily adjust your schedule based on traffic or any spontaneous detours you might consider.

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 47 miles from Keokuk, IA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.7 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 21 miles or 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 47 miles or 59m 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 34m

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 Keokuk, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Keokuk, IA

This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Keokuk, 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 70.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Trenton, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Trenton, IA

47 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

New Boston, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mount Pleasant, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 47 miles from Keokuk, 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 70.7 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

Crêpes de Luxe Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 93.9

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198872233

Visit website

Pullman Bar & Diner

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.2 mi

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.2 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Kindred Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 93.9

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

The Black Angel Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.2 mi

DAYDRINK

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.5 mi

Crêpes de Luxe Cafe

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13198872233

Visit website

Pullman Bar & Diner

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $20 to $30 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–12 pm

+13193381808

Visit website

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+13193587342

Visit website

St. Burch Tavern

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route Moderately mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13193417700

Visit website

Nodo Downtown

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+13193591181

Visit website

The Encounter Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+13195192044

Visit website

Bluebird Diner

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13193511470

Visit website

The Dandy Lion

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

+13193586400

Visit website

Kindred Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–4 pm

Visit website

The Black Angel Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+13193591848

Visit website

DAYDRINK

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

Visit website

Press Coffee

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+13198871500

Visit website

Power Café

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–11 pm

+13193843427

Visit website

Sidekick Coffee & Books

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

+13195691010

Visit website

Java House Coffee Roasters - First Ave

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+13192482074

Visit website

EMRB Café

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–4 pm

+13193357126

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargeLab Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 93.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 93.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 93.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 93.9

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Caramelcorn Shoppe/Smoothie Stop

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour $1 to $10 mile 93.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+13196255568

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 9.1 and 92.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
9.1 mi into trip | ~12m in | US 218

Turn left onto US 218

Navigation decision point

4
45.3 mi into trip | ~57m in | US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
89.6 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in

Take the exit toward Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward Airport
4
92.4 mi into trip | ~1h 54m in | US 6 / Highway 6 East

Turn right onto US 6 / Highway 6 East

Navigation decision point

4
92.8 mi into trip | ~1h 55m in | South Gilbert Street

Turn left onto South Gilbert Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.68 one way

$29.36 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 33 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.12 $32.24
premium $4.89 $18.07 $36.14
diesel $5.61 $20.73 $41.46

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: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 28.2 0 $9.86 $4.51
Efficient EV 23.5 0 $8.22 $3.76
EV Truck/SUV 37.6 0 $13.15 $6.01

Gas CO2

33 kg

EV CO2

11 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 Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Keokuk, IA

Late night in Keokuk on Sunday

Local time

5:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Iowa City, IA

Late night in Iowa City on Sunday

Local time

5:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Mostly Clear

SE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

73°F

Trenton, IA

47 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 58m 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?

This route presents a turn-heavy local drive, with only 17% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a dynamic road profile, shifting between different surface types and speeds. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 70.7 miles along the Avenue of the Saints. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and road conditions as you navigate this more intimate, less direct path through the landscape.

Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.7 mi on Avenue of the Saints.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in near US 218.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Keokuk, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 58m with 17% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles (US 218): Navigation decision point; at 45.3 miles (US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 89.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 93.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (17%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.7 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 9.1 miles (US 218): Navigation decision point; at 45.3 miles (US 218; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 89.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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