Origin
Tama, IA
Morning in Tama on Sunday
Local time
11:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tama, 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 27m
Distance
71.2 mi
115 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tama, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 71.6-mile drive from Tama, Iowa, to Iowa City, Iowa, is a straightforward trip that will take you about 1 hour and 14 minutes to complete. With a projected fuel cost of $11, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including East 5th Street and Lincoln Highway, with no highway driving involved, making it a more intimate journey through the Midwest landscape. This distance and duration make it an ideal day trip, allowing you to easily reach your destination and explore Iowa City without needing an overnight stay. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns as you navigate your way.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 73rd Street | 33.4 mi | 38m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 15.4 mi | 16m |
| Lincoln Highway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| I 80 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| North Dubuque Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| East 5th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| US 30 Business | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
73rd Street
— 33.4 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tama, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on US 63
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
State Street
2
Turn left onto East 5th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East 5th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 30 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Highway
4
Take the ramp onto US 30 Business
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 30 Business
5
Merge onto US 30
12 mi
·
13 min
·
Lincoln Highway
6
Continue on US 30
33 mi
·
38 min
·
73rd Street
7
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
8
Merge onto I 380; US 218; IA 27
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 80 East: Davenport
11
Merge onto I 80
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
I 80
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward Downtown
13
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
North Dubuque Street
14
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft
·
21 sec
·
Kimball Road
15
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
North Gilbert Street
16
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.6 miles from Tama, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 63.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East 5th Street
Turn left onto East 5th Street
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
US 30 Business / Lincoln Highway
At end of road, turn right onto US 30 Business / Lincoln Highway
Navigation decision point
5
47.4 mi into trip
|
~56m 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:...
4
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward I 80
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 80
5
63.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
$11.13 one way
$22.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.22 | $24.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.70 | $27.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.72 | $31.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.4 | 0 | $7.48 | $3.42 |
| Efficient EV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.5 | 0 | $9.97 | $4.56 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
11:24 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
1h 27m 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 is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating a series of turns rather than cruising on a highway. With a 0% highway share, expect to be on surface streets and local roads for the entire 71.6 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the 'turn-heavy' profile suggests frequent changes in direction. This type of driving offers a more grounded experience of the local terrain and communities you're passing through, allowing for a closer look at the everyday scenery of Iowa.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 33.4 mi on 73rd Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near East 5th Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71.2 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 0.2 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 30 Business / Lincoln Highway): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Tama, IA to Iowa City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
47.4 mi in
|
~56m
|
via US 218
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 71.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 33.4 miles on 73rd Street. 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: at 0.2 miles (East 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (US 30 Business / Lincoln Highway): Navigation decision point; at 47.4 miles (US 218): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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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