Origin
Monticello, IA
Late night in Monticello on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, 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 9m
Distance
48.5 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, IA
Serena Koi
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel between Monticello and Iowa City, you are in for a quick, 48.6-mile trek through the heart of the Midwest. Expect a drive time of approximately 59 minutes, making this an ideal choice for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $7, the route is as economical as it is efficient. Since the entire journey stays off the interstate, you will be navigating local roads the whole way. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a morning or afternoon schedule, perfect for those who prefer to keep their travel plans flexible and low-cost.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 1 | 15.7 mi | 21m |
| US 151 Business | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Highway 1 Northeast | 10.7 mi | 14m |
| North Dodge Street | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| South Main Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 1st Avenue North | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| North Market Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 1
— 15.7 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on North Maple Street
73 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Maple Street
2
Turn left onto IA 38
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 1st Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 151 Business; IA 38
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
South Main Street
4
Continue on US 151 Business
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Amber Road
5
Take the ramp onto US 151 Business
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 151 Business
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
7
Turn left onto IA 1
10 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 1
8
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue North
9
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 1
10
Enter roundabout onto US 30 Bus; IA 1
121 ft
·
5 sec
·
State Highway 1
11
Continue on US 30 Bus; IA 1
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 1
12
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
13
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Market Street
14
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
15
Continue on North Dodge Street
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North Dodge Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
17
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Gilbert Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.3 miles from Monticello, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 48.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 38 / East 1st Street
Turn left onto IA 38 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
27.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
47.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
4
48.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
North Gilbert Street
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.58 one way
$15.16 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.33 | $16.65 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.33 | $18.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.71 | $21.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.24 | $1.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.4 | 0 | $6.79 | $3.10 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Mount Vernon, IA
24 mi in
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
26 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 9m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route maintains a 0% highway share. You will transition through East 1st Street, South Main Street, and Amber Road, which keeps the experience focused on regional road travel. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on East 1st Street, you should be prepared for frequent turns and navigating local infrastructure. This layout demands your full attention, providing a hands-on driving experience that differs significantly from the predictability of a major interstate. You will feel the unique rhythm of the local landscape as you move steadily toward your destination.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.7 mi on State Highway 1.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 1 and US 151 Business. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 38 / East 1st Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.9 miles (US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 48.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.7 miles on State Highway 1. 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: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business; IA 38 / South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 27.9 miles (US 30 Bus; IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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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