Origin
Palo, IA
Morning in Palo on Sunday
Local time
8:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Palo, 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
51m
Distance
37.8 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palo, IA
Ivan Aguilar
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Palo to Iowa City is 37.8 miles and takes about 51 minutes via Avenue of the Saints and US 30, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short, easy drive connects two points within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa. It's a straightforward trip perfect for a quick hop between destinations without requiring an overnight stay. You'll find the journey to be a mixed drive, offering a bit of variety without being overly demanding. Consider this route when you need a simple, predictable journey between these two Iowa locales.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| US 30 | 5.5 mi | 6m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| Covington Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| IA 100 | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 1st Street | 0.5 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 15.4 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palo, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on Vinton Street
85 ft
·
9 sec
·
Vinton Street
2
Turn left onto 1st Street
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
3
Turn left onto CR W36
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Covington Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward IA 100 west: To US 30
5
Merge onto IA 100
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
IA 100
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
25 sec
Toward US 30 East, US 218 South: Cedar Rapids
7
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
US 30; US 218
8
Continue on US 30; US 151; US 218
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 30; US 151; US 218
9
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
10
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
13
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
15
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
16
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
17
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 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
19 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 37.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.9 miles from Palo, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 30.2 — 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
|
1st Street
Turn left onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR W36 / Covington Road
Turn left onto CR W36 / Covington Road
Navigation decision point
6
8.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 East, US 218 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 East, US 218 South: Cedar Rapids
5
14 mi into trip
|
~20m 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:...
5
30.2 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
$5.91 one way
$11.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.49 | $12.98 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.27 | $14.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.35 | $16.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.81 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.31 | $1.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
8:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
25 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
51m 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 route offers a mixed driving experience, with 36% of it utilizing highways. You'll encounter stretches on the Avenue of the Saints, US 30, and I 80, providing a blend of faster travel and potentially more local road segments. The longest uninterrupted drive is 15.4 miles on the Avenue of the Saints. Expect the road to transition between these different types of thoroughfares, keeping the drive from becoming monotonous. It's not a purely interstate grind, nor is it entirely rural backroads, offering a balanced feel behind the wheel.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 15.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 1st Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 37.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (CR W36 / Covington Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Palo, IA and Iowa City, IA, road signs point toward Airport and Downtown.
Airport
14 mi in
|
~20m
|
via US 218
Downtown
35.6 mi in
|
~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 37.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 15.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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.
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 (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (CR W36 / Covington Road): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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