Remsen, IA to Iowa City, IA is 291.5 miles and takes about 5h 47m via Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. With most of the drive on surface roads, expect a more relaxed pace compared to interstate travel. This route is a solid option if you're looking for a single-day drive without the high speeds of a freeway.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
145.8 miles from Remsen, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
165.9 mi
3h 11m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
15.1 mi
20m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
320th Street
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,943 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,357
Quietest
2 AM
~105 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Remsen, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Washington Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto IA 3
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
3
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 140
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
5
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
6
Continue on L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
9
Continue on US 20
166 mi·3 hr 11 min·220th Street
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
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
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 47m estimated drive time, starting in the morning is recommended to allow for flexibility. You'll have one stop planned, so consider breaking up the 165.9-mile stretch on 220th Street for a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $51, so budget accordingly. Keep an eye out for the transition from Highway 20 to Avenue of the Saints, as this is where the character of the drive begins to change. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of adjusting your pace as needed.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 145.8 miles from Remsen, IA, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 64 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.8 miles or 2h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 43m
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 Remsen, 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 Remsen, IA
This is one driving day of about 291.5 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Remsen, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Home stretch
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$1 to $10
Coralville, Iowa
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+13196255568
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 283.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 3 / State Highway 3
At end of road, turn left onto IA 3 / State Highway 3
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip|~3m in|IA 140 / State Highway 140
Turn right onto IA 140 / State Highway 140
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
25.7 mi into trip|~37m in|US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
218.9 mi into trip|~4h 21m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
283.9 mi into trip|~5h 33m 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
$43.05 one way
$86.10 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$47.52
$95.05
premium
$4.72
$54.12
$108.25
diesel
$4.80
$55.04
$110.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.5
1
$30.61
$13.99
Efficient EV
72.9
0
$25.51
$11.66
EV Truck/SUV
116.6
1
$40.81
$18.66
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Remsen, IA
Late night
in Remsen on Sunday
Local time
3:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
3:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
SW 5 to 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:27PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 2:25PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
86°F
Waterloo, IA
146 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
3 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
5h 47m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 16% highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 165.9 miles along 220th Street. You'll notice the shift from potentially faster highway cruising to more deliberate travel as you transition to these non-highway sections. Expect to encounter more local traffic and intersections on the majority of this route.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near IA 3 / State Highway 3.
Driving Effort5/10
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 291.5 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 0.4 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 291.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 25.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Iowa City, IA before the return drive.
