Sac City, IA to Iowa City, IA is 220 miles and takes about 4h 17m via US 20 and I-80, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, offering a straightforward connection between two points in Iowa. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick trip or a segment of a larger journey. Given its manageable length and highway focus, it’s well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to arrive at your destination with plenty of time.
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
110 miles from Sac City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
145.1 mi
2h 47m
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi
1h 11m
I 80
4.2 mi
4m
Sierra Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
North 5th Street
1 mi
2m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Kimball Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 145.1 mi, about 2h 47m
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 Sac City, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on CR D36
71 ft·9 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto North 5th Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North 5th Street
3
Continue on CR M54
1.2 mi·1 min·Sierra Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 20; US 71
145 mi·2 hr 47 min·US 20; US 71
5
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
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
7
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
8
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi·4 min·I 80
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
10
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
11
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
12
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid rushing. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you pace the drive, but consider breaking it up around the 2-hour mark, perhaps near the transition from US 20 to I-80. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $37. Given the highway-heavy nature, you'll find ample services along US 20 and I-80 for fuel and rest stops. A good specific tip is to check traffic conditions on I-80 as you approach Iowa City, as this is a more heavily traveled corridor.
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 110 miles from Sac City, IA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145.1 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 28m
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 Sac City, 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 Sac City, IA
This is one driving day of about 220 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Sac City, 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 US 20 for about 145.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 217.8 — 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|North 5th Street
Turn left onto North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
6
147.4 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
4
212.1 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
212.3 mi into trip|~4h 3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
4
217.8 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.49 one way
$64.98 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$35.87
$71.73
premium
$4.72
$40.85
$81.69
diesel
$4.80
$41.54
$83.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66
0
$23.10
$10.56
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.25
$8.80
EV Truck/SUV
88
1
$30.80
$14.08
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Sac City, IA
Late night
in Sac City on Sunday
Local time
5:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 8 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Late night
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
N 10 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 3:26PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 1:22PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
86°F
Waterloo, IA
110 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
4h 17m 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?
You'll be on highways for about 68% of this 220-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 145.1 miles, primarily on US 20. After that, you'll transition to Avenue of the Saints and I-80. Expect plenty of exits and highway cruising as you cover the distance. The transition from US 20 to the other highways means you'll encounter different exit patterns and potential traffic merging.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145.1 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 5th Street.
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 220 miles you will encounter 10 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 (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 147.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 4h 17m. Total distance: 220 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 145.1 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 147.4 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
