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Trip from Oskaloosa, 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 50m

Distance

75 mi

121 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
1h 42m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and the county seat of Mahaska County, Iowa, United States

Oskaloosa, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States

Iowa City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Oskaloosa to Iowa City, you are looking at a straightforward 84.9-mile journey across the Iowa heartland. You can expect to spend about 1 hour and 30 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. Navigating the route involves a series of local roads, specifically A Avenue East, Highway 92, and Highway 149. With fuel costs estimated at $13, this is an economical way to travel between these two Midwest hubs. Because the entire route stays off the interstate, you will experience a more direct, localized connection between your starting point and destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.5 miles from Oskaloosa, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 92 23.2 mi 33m
State Highway 22 19 mi 28m
Highway 1 Southwest 13.3 mi 18m
State Highway 149 11.1 mi 15m
Highway 1 West 1.9 mi 3m
A Avenue East 1.5 mi 2m
State Highway 1 1.1 mi 1m
South Gilbert Street 1.1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: State Highway 92 — 23.2 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oskaloosa, IA and Iowa City, IA.

1

Start on this road

56 ft · 9 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto IA 92

1.5 mi · 2 min · A Avenue East
3

Continue on IA 92

23 mi · 33 min · State Highway 92
4

Turn left onto IA 149

11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 149
5

Continue on IA 22; IA 149

0.9 mi · 1 min · Main Street
6

Continue on IA 22

13 mi · 18 min · State Highway 22
7

Continue on IA 22

0.8 mi · 1 min · 6th Street
8

Continue on IA 22

6.2 mi · 9 min · State Highway 22
9

Continue on IA 22

390 ft · 6 sec · East Avenue
10

Turn left onto IA 1

0.6 mi · 1 min · 1st Street
11

Continue on IA 1

1.1 mi · 1 min · State Highway 1
12

Continue on IA 1

13 mi · 18 min · Highway 1 Southwest
13

Continue on IA 1

1.9 mi · 3 min · Highway 1 West
14

Continue on US 6; IA 1

0.4 mi · 1 min · Highway 6 East
15

Turn left onto South Gilbert Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Gilbert Street
16

Arrive at destination

South Gilbert Street

Trip Plan

Because this drive is relatively short at 1 hour and 30 minutes, you have significant flexibility with your departure time to avoid local traffic. You do not need to worry about planning for multiple rest stops, as you can easily complete the trip in one go. Keep in mind that since you are relying on smaller roads, your speed will likely remain consistent rather than fast. Budget approximately $13 for fuel before you head out, and ensure your tank is topped off in Oskaloosa to avoid hunting for stations along the more rural segments. A helpful tip is to check the turn-by-turn navigation on A Avenue East and Highway 149 before leaving, as the lack of interstate signage makes paying attention to road markers essential.

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 37.5 miles from Oskaloosa, IA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.2 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 17 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.5 miles or 53m 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 31m

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 Oskaloosa, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Oskaloosa, IA

This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Oskaloosa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 92 for about 23.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Wellman, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wellman, IA

38 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

Sigourney, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North English, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Oskaloosa, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 75

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+13193587342

Visit website

Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Iowa City, Iowa

0.1 mi

Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Iowa City, Iowa

0.4 mi

Oasis Falafel (Iowa City)

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+13193587342

Visit website

Baroncini Ristorante Italiano and Pizza

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $50 to $60 mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13193372048

Visit website

Orchard Green Restaurant and Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $50 to $10 mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 5–9 pm

+13193541642

Visit website

SAIGON'S CORNER Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13193337233

Visit website

Szechuan House

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9:30 pm

+13193386788

Visit website

Masala Indian Cuisine

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+13193386199

Visit website

Le Gourmet Korean Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–7 pm

+13194710959

Visit website

La Wine Bar & Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $20 to $30 mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+13195196999

Tesla Supercharger

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargeLab Charging Station

2.0 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 75

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+31880109500

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 69.6

Iowa City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~9 min detour

3.4 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 75

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.1 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 75

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 75

Iowa City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

3 of 3

3 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 73.9 — 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 | IA 92 / A Avenue East

Turn left onto IA 92 / A Avenue East

Navigation decision point

4
24.7 mi into trip | ~35m in | IA 149 / State Highway 149

Turn left onto IA 149 / State Highway 149

Navigation decision point

4
73.9 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in | South Gilbert Street

Turn left onto South Gilbert Street

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.73 one way

$23.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.87 $25.75
premium $4.89 $14.43 $28.87
diesel $5.61 $16.56 $33.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.5 0 $7.87 $3.60
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.56 $3.00
EV Truck/SUV 30 0 $10.50 $4.80

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Oskaloosa, IA

Morning in Oskaloosa on Sunday

Local time

10:17 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Iowa City, IA

Morning in Iowa City on Sunday

Local time

10:17 AM

CDT

Current temp

65°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 10 to 15 mph 12% chance Live forecast

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

9 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

1h 50m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy experience on this drive, as the entire 84.9-mile path relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates. Since the highway share is 0%, your focus will be on navigating the transitions between A Avenue East, Highway 92, and Highway 149. There is no long-haul, uninterrupted stretch of road here, so you will need to remain attentive to frequent changes in direction. Unlike a monotonous highway grind, this route offers a more hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape. Prepare for a steady pace as you move through the interior of the state.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.2 mi on State Highway 92.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 92 and State Highway 22. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 92 / A Avenue East.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Oskaloosa, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 1h 50m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles (IA 149 / State Highway 149): Navigation decision point; at 73.9 miles (South Gilbert Street): Navigation decision point.

About the Cities

Starting in Oskaloosa, IA

Full guide →

Oskaloosa is a small city in Mahaska County, Iowa. Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University, a private university, and Lake Keomah State Park which is four miles east of the city.

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 1h 50m. Total distance: 75 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 23.2 miles on State Highway 92. 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 92 / A Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 24.7 miles (IA 149 / State Highway 149): Navigation decision point; at 73.9 miles (South Gilbert Street): Navigation decision point.

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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