Origin
Solon, IA
Late night in Solon on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Solon, 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
19m
Distance
11.5 mi
19 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 19m
8 AM
0h 23m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 20m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 18m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Solon, IA
Demian Grygorchuk
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling between Solon and Iowa City is a quick, straightforward 11.5-mile journey that typically takes about 17 minutes. You will primarily navigate via South Market Street, Highway 1, and North Dodge Street as you move through the heart of the Midwest. Given the short duration, this trip is easily manageable as a day outing, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. With an estimated fuel cost of just $2, it is an incredibly budget-friendly commute between these two Iowa towns. This route serves as a practical connection for those looking to traverse the local area without the need for extensive planning or multiple stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 1 Northeast | 7.5 mi | 10m |
| North Dodge Street | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| South Market Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Church Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Gilbert Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 1 Northeast
— 7.5 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Solon, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on CR F16
297 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 1
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Market Street
3
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
4
Continue on North Dodge Street
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
North Dodge Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
6
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Gilbert Street
7
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 11 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 1 / South Market Street
Turn right onto IA 1 / South Market Street
Navigation decision point
4
10.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
4
11 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
North Gilbert Street
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.80 one way
$3.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.97 | $3.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.21 | $4.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.54 | $5.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.21 | $0.55 |
| Efficient EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.01 | $0.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.61 | $0.74 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Late night in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
5:11 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
23 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
19m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, as the route is comprised entirely of local roads and state highway connectors. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on South Market Street, meaning you will encounter frequent transitions as you navigate the path. Since the entire drive is localized, the character of the road remains consistent from start to finish. You should be prepared for a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged throughout the 17-minute transit.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.5 mi on Highway 1 Northeast.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Highway 1 Northeast and North Dodge Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near IA 1 / South Market Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Solon, IA to Iowa City, IA is easy. At 19m with 65% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (IA 1 / South Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (North Gilbert Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 19m. Total distance: 11.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.5 miles on Highway 1 Northeast. 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: at 0.1 miles (IA 1 / South Market Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.8 miles (Church Street): Navigation decision point; at 11 miles (North 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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