Spanning 300.5 miles across the heart of the Midwest, this drive from Le Mars to Iowa City takes approximately 6 hours to complete. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stop, though you should budget about $46 for fuel. You will primarily navigate via 220th Street, Highway 20, and the Avenue of the Saints. This journey is best suited for travelers who prefer a direct, local-focused route rather than a standard interstate trek. If you are looking for a straightforward way to cross the state, this path offers a reliable, no-frills connection between these two Iowa hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
150.2 miles from Le Mars, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
165.9 mi
3h 11m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Oyens Avenue
7 mi
9m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
County Road K64
5 mi
6m
State Highway 3
4.7 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Le Mars, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on 1st Street Northeast
0.3 mi·1 min·1st Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto IA 3
0.1 mi·16 sec·5th Avenue Northeast
3
Continue on IA 3
0.7 mi·1 min·Lincoln Street Northeast
4
Continue on IA 3
4.7 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
5
Turn right onto County Road K64
5.0 mi·6 min·County Road K64
6
Continue on Oyens Avenue
7.0 mi·9 min·Oyens Avenue
7
Turn left onto CR C60
2.0 mi·2 min·C 60
8
Turn right onto County Road C66
2.4 mi·3 min·County Road C66
9
Continue on 310th Street
1.4 mi·1 min·310th Street
10
Turn straight onto County Highway C66
0.8 mi·1 min·County Highway C66
11
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi·52 sec·Main Street
12
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 3rd Street
13
Continue on C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
14
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
15
Continue on L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
18
Continue on US 20
166 mi·3 hr 11 min·220th Street
19
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
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
21
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
22
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
24
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
25
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
26
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
27
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 6-hour route with only one planned stop, it is wise to map out your break early to break up the monotony of the long 220th Street segment. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to ensure you reach Iowa City before evening traffic picks up. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads may offer fewer service stations than major interstates. Remember that because this is a turn-heavy drive, your GPS will be your most important passenger; verify your route settings before you depart Le Mars. The flexibility of a single-day trip allows you to adjust your pace as needed, but staying consistent on the longer stretches will help you maintain your arrival schedule.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.2 miles from Le Mars, IA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 66 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.2 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 54m
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 Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, IA
This is one driving day of about 300.5 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Le Mars, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$1 to $10
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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 292.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast
Turn left onto IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast
Navigation decision point
4
19.9 mi into trip|~28m in|County Road C66
Turn right onto County Road C66
Navigation decision point
6
34.7 mi into trip|~49m in|US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
227.9 mi into trip|~4h 34m 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
5
292.8 mi into trip|~5h 46m 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
$44.38 one way
$88.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$48.99
$97.98
premium
$4.72
$55.79
$111.59
diesel
$4.80
$56.74
$113.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.2
1
$31.55
$14.42
Efficient EV
75.1
0
$26.29
$12.02
EV Truck/SUV
120.2
1
$42.07
$19.23
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Le Mars, IA
Evening
in Le Mars on Saturday
Local time
8:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
SSW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Evening
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
8:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph17% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
6h on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 turn-heavy, local-focused experience that feels quite different from a high-speed interstate cruise. With only 12% of the trip categorized as highway driving, you will spend most of your time on secondary roads. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 165.9-mile stretch on 220th Street, which requires sustained attention and frequent navigation. As you transition between these smaller roads, the character of the drive shifts from rural local paths to the more structured Avenue of the Saints. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that demands your focus more than a typical highway commute would.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast.
Driving Effort5/10
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 300.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.3 miles (IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (County Road C66): Navigation decision point; at 34.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h. Total distance: 300.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (IA 3 / 5th Avenue Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 19.9 miles (County Road C66): Navigation decision point; at 34.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Iowa City, IA before the return drive.
