Logan to Iowa City is 239.2 miles and takes about 4h 31m via I 80 and I 880, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across the heart of the Midwest, staying entirely within Iowa. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a fairly direct path between these two points. It's a straightforward drive, best suited for a single-day trip when you want to cover ground efficiently.
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
119.6 miles from Logan, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
216.2 mi
3h 54m
Overton Avenue
10.7 mi
18m
I 880
7.7 mi
8m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
County Highway L34
0.9 mi
1m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
County Road F50
0.2 mi
<1m
East 7th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 216.2 mi, about 3h 54m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,933 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,316
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
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 Logan, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on US 30
0.2 mi·37 sec·East 7th Street
2
Continue on US 30
0.2 mi·29 sec·County Road F50
3
Turn right onto Overton Avenue
11 mi·18 min·Overton Avenue
4
Continue on County Highway L34
0.9 mi·1 min·County Highway L34
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 880: Des Moines
6
Merge onto I 880
7.7 mi·8 min·I 880
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·43 sec
Exit 16AToward I 80 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
12
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
13
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
14
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
15
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to ensure you have plenty of daylight. The recommended single day for this trip means you can be flexible with stops. With 216.2 miles on I 80, plan for one comfortable break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $36, and stations can become less frequent on longer highway stretches. Consider a quick stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs before the final push.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 119.6 miles from Logan, IA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 216.2 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 53 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.6 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
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 Logan, 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 Logan, IA
This is one driving day of about 239.2 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Logan, 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 I 80 for about 216.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 130.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Overton Avenue
Turn right onto Overton Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
12.1 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the ramp toward I 880: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Toward I 880: Des Moines
8
20.1 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
115.7 mi into trip|~2h 13m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
130.1 mi into trip|~2h 30m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.32 one way
$70.65 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$39.00
$77.99
premium
$4.72
$44.41
$88.82
diesel
$4.80
$45.17
$90.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.93
$9.57
EV Truck/SUV
95.7
1
$33.49
$15.31
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Logan, IA
Late night
in Logan on Monday
Local time
12:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Monday
Local time
12:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
NW 10 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:35AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM 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
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
4h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 94% of the 239.2 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 216.2 miles on I 80, meaning extended periods of cruising. The transition to surface roads like Overton Avenue will occur as you approach your destination. Expect a generally open feel with frequent exits along the interstate segments.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 216.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Overton Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Overton Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 239.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Overton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,381 ft666 ft
Total Climb
355 ft
Total Descent
785 ft
Highest Point
1,381 ft
~68.3 mi in
Elevation Range
715 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Logan, IA and Iowa City, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
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 4h 31m. Total distance: 239.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 216.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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 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. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Overton Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 20.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
