Origin
Ogden, IA
Evening in Ogden on Friday
Local time
7:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ogden, IA to Iowa City, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
148.3 mi
239 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 46m
★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ogden, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ogden, IA to Iowa City, IA is 148.3 miles and takes about 2h 57m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the heart of the Midwest. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, which generally means a more relaxed pace compared to interstate travel. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is a straightforward option for connecting these two Iowa communities efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
74.1 miles from Ogden, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 230th Street | 77.2 mi | 1h 29m |
| 73rd Street | 33.4 mi | 38m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| 220th Street | 12.8 mi | 15m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| South 1st Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
230th Street
— 77.2 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,524 veh/hr typical · worst 3,044
Quietest
2 AM
~145 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 65 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 Ogden, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on CR E41
87 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
Turn left onto South 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 1st Street
3
Continue on US 169
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
H Avenue
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
5
Merge onto US 30
13 mi
·
15 min
·
220th Street
6
Continue on US 30
77 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
230th Street
7
Continue on US 30
33 mi
·
38 min
·
73rd Street
8
Take the exit onto US 218
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
9
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
12
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
14
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
15
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
16
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
17
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Consider departing in the morning to make the most of your day, especially since this 148.3-mile trip can easily be completed in under 3 hours. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated around $23, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Pay attention to the longest stretch of 77.2 miles on 230th Street, ensuring you have adequate fuel before embarking on that segment. The surface road profile means you'll want to be mindful of local speed limits and potential intersections.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 74.1 miles from Ogden, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.2 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.1 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
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 Ogden, 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 Ogden, IA
This is one driving day of about 148.3 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Ogden, 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 230th Street for about 77.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.1 miles from Ogden, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 230th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.2 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 140.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 1st Street
Turn left onto South 1st Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
124.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
|
US 218
Take the exit onto US 218 toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South:...
4
140.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
140.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m 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
$22.99 one way
$45.98 round trip
$3.94/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $25.21 | $50.42 |
| premium | $4.93 | $28.77 | $57.55 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $32.69 | $65.38 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.5 | 0 | $15.57 | $7.12 |
| Efficient EV | 37.1 | 0 | $12.98 | $5.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.3 | 0 | $20.76 | $9.49 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Evening in Iowa City on Friday
Local time
7:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Toledo, IA
74 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
2 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
2h 57m 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?
This drive is mostly on surface roads, with highways making up about 30% of the total mileage. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 77.2 miles on 230th Street, offering a good opportunity for rural cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you move away from the main arteries. Expect more frequent intersections and changes in speed limits as you navigate the local road network.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.2 mi on 230th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 1st Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 148.3 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 124.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Ogden, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
124.5 mi in
|
~2h 26m
|
via US 218
About the Cities
Arriving in Iowa City, IA
Full guide →Founded 1839
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 148.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.2 miles on 230th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 124.5 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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