Origin
Walcott, IA
Morning in Walcott on Sunday
Local time
9:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Walcott, 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
54m
Distance
43.6 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 58m
12 PM
0h 57m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 3m
8 PM
0h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Walcott, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 43.6-mile drive from Walcott, IA, to Iowa City, IA, is easily manageable in about 54 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a day trip. Primarily utilizing I-80, this route offers a no-fuss journey through the Midwest region of Iowa. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $7, it's an economical choice for a quick hop. You'll spend most of your time on the highway, so expect a direct and efficient travel experience. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a simple transit between two points in Iowa without significant detours or overnight stays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 37.4 mi | 40m |
| North Dodge Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| North Plainview Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| South Main Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| 60th Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| 200th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 37.4 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walcott, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on Downey Street
52 ft
·
4 sec
·
Downey Street
2
Turn right onto Bryant Street
0.1 mi
·
33 sec
·
Bryant Street
3
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR F58; US 6 Hist
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
200th Street
5
Turn right onto CR Y40
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
60th Avenue
6
Continue on CR Y40
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Plainview Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
8
Merge onto I 80; US 6
37 mi
·
40 min
·
I 80; US 6
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
10
Turn left onto IA 1
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Dodge Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
12
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Gilbert Street
13
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Walcott, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 40.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Bryant Street
Turn right onto Bryant Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Main Street
Turn right onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR F58; US 6 Hist / 200th Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR F58; US 6 Hist / 200th Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.9 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
40.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.82 one way
$13.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.48 | $14.97 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.63 | $19.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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
9:54 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
22 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
54m 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 highway-focused experience for 86% of this 43.6-mile trip, predominantly on I-80. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a solid 37.4 miles on I-80, allowing for consistent speed and minimal distractions. As you approach Iowa City, you'll transition from the interstate onto local roads like North Dodge Street and North Plainview Road, marking a slight shift in the driving environment. This route offers a consistent, high-speed character for the majority of its length, with a brief introduction to local traffic patterns as you reach your destination.
86% 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: 37.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and North Dodge Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Bryant Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 54m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Bryant Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (CR F58; US 6 Hist / 200th Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 54m. Total distance: 43.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.4 miles on I 80. 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: near the start (Bryant Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (South Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 1 miles (CR F58; US 6 Hist / 200th 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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