Origin
Wilton, IA
Late night in Wilton on Sunday
Local time
5:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wilton, 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
41m
Distance
31.8 mi
51 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
7 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 38m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 44m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 48m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wilton, IA
Tom Fisk
Iowa City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Wilton and Iowa City, this 31.7-mile trek is a straightforward way to cross the Midwest landscape. Expect to spend about 35 minutes behind the wheel, making it an effortless one-day excursion that requires no overnight stops. With a fuel budget of just $5, it is an incredibly economical route for a short commute or a casual afternoon trip. You will navigate primarily via West 5th Street, Highway 6, and Rose Avenue rather than relying on major interstates. Because both towns are located within the same region, the transition feels like a seamless local journey. It is a practical choice if you need a reliable, low-cost connection between these two Iowa communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 24 mi | 25m |
| Rose Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| North Dodge Street | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| West 5th Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| United States Highway 6 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North Gilbert Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Church Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Maurer Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 24 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wilton, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on Maurer Street
318 ft
·
19 sec
·
Maurer Street
2
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West 5th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 6
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
United States Highway 6
4
Continue on US 6
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Rose Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 80
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
8
Turn left onto IA 1
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Dodge Street
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto Church Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Church Street
10
Turn left onto North Gilbert Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North Gilbert Street
11
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 75 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 31.1 — 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
|
US 6 Hist / West 5th Street
Turn left onto US 6 Hist / West 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 6 / United States Highway 6
At end of road, turn right onto US 6 / United States Highway 6
Navigation decision point
4
28.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
4
29 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
IA 1 / North Dodge Street
Turn left onto IA 1 / North Dodge Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
31.1 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Church Street
Turn right onto Church Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.97 one way
$9.94 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.46 | $10.92 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.12 | $12.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.02 | $14.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.34 | $1.53 |
| Efficient EV | 8 | 0 | $2.78 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.45 | $2.04 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
5:18 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
41m 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 is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention compared to a standard interstate cruise. You will not spend any time on major highways, as the route relies entirely on local roads and secondary thoroughfares. Because there is no highway share, the experience is less about high-speed cruising and more about navigating the specific turns required by the route. You should prepare for a consistent, hands-on driving experience without any long, uninterrupted stretches. The personality of this trip is defined by its local character, requiring you to stay alert through the various segments that connect Wilton to Iowa City.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and Rose Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 6 Hist / West 5th Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 41m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 6 Hist / West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 6 / United States Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 41m. Total distance: 31.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24 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: at 0.1 miles (US 6 Hist / West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (US 6 / United States Highway 6): Navigation decision point; at 28.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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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