Traveling from Maquoketa to Iowa City covers 86.4 miles, making it an efficient trek across the Iowa landscape. You should plan for a driving time of approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes, which is easily manageable as a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, this route is quite budget-friendly for a quick getaway. You will navigate via a combination of 200th Avenue, US 61, and IA 1. Since both ends of the trip reside within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel throughout the journey. It is a straightforward drive that offers enough variety to keep you engaged without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.2 miles from Maquoketa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
81.1 mi
1h 30m
North Dodge Street
2.1 mi
4m
South Main Street
1 mi
1m
200th Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
North Gilbert Street
0.5 mi
1m
Church Street
0.2 mi
<1m
South Gilbert Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 81.1 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maquoketa, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on South Main Street
1.0 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Continue on 200th Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·200th Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward US 61: Davenport
4
Merge onto US 61
32 mi·37 min·US 61
5
Take the exit onto US 61
49 mi·53 min·US 61
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
7
Turn left onto IA 1
2.1 mi·4 min·North Dodge Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Church Street
9
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North Gilbert Street
10
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops, as the 86.4-mile distance is short enough to complete in one go. Keep in mind that since you are navigating local roads, your pace may be dictated by local traffic and turns rather than highway speed limits. Budgeting $13 for fuel should be sufficient, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Maquoketa. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the lack of highway stretches means you will be navigating intersections more often than on a typical interstate route.
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 43.2 miles from Maquoketa, IA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.2 miles or 51m 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 24m
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 Maquoketa, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Maquoketa, IA
This is one driving day of about 86.4 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Maquoketa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 61 for about 81.1 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 85.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.8 mi into trip|~3m in
Take the ramp toward US 61: Davenport
Navigation decision point
Toward US 61: Davenport
4
83.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
4
83.6 mi into trip|~1h 35m in|IA 1 / North Dodge Street
Turn left onto IA 1 / North Dodge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m in|Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
4
85.9 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|North Gilbert Street
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.51 one way
$27.02 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$14.83
$29.66
premium
$4.89
$16.63
$33.25
diesel
$5.61
$19.08
$38.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.9
0
$9.07
$4.15
Efficient EV
21.6
0
$7.56
$3.46
EV Truck/SUV
34.6
0
$12.10
$5.53
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 13, 2026
Origin
Maquoketa, IA
Night
in Maquoketa on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Night
in Iowa City on Saturday
Local time
11:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local roads and state highways that demand your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches—the longest being 0 miles on 200th Avenue—the experience is consistently dynamic. This path prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed transit. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience where the scenery and road conditions shift frequently as you transition between the various connecting routes.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.1 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and North Dodge Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Maquoketa, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 42m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 83.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles (IA 1 / North Dodge Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
793 ft666 ft
Total Climb
266 ft
Total Descent
304 ft
Highest Point
793 ft
~6.2 mi in
Elevation Range
127 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 86.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 81.1 miles on US 61. 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 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 83.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 83.6 miles (IA 1 / North Dodge Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Iowa City, IA before heading back.
