Woodbine, IA to Iowa City, IA is 242.4 miles and takes about 4h 38m via I 80, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically across Iowa on a primarily highway-focused path. It’s a straightforward trip designed for efficiency, making it a solid choice if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, it's easily manageable as a single-day journey.
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
121.2 miles from Woodbine, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
203.3 mi
3h 40m
1000th Street
11.1 mi
15m
23rd Street
10.5 mi
14m
Ia 44
9.5 mi
13m
County Road F50
4.6 mi
6m
North Dubuque Street
1 mi
2m
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
2m
Lincoln Way
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 203.3 mi, about 3h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Woodbine, IA and Iowa City, IA.
1
Start on this road
72 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
137 ft·11 sec·6th Street
3
Turn left onto Lincoln Way
0.4 mi·46 sec·Lincoln Way
4
Turn right onto US 30
4.6 mi·6 min·County Road F50
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto IA 44
9.5 mi·13 min·IA 44
6
Continue on IA 44
11 mi·15 min·1000th Street
7
Continue on IA 44
0.3 mi·24 sec·Chatburn Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 59
11 mi·14 min·23rd Street
9
Continue on US 59
0.1 mi·19 sec·Avoca Lane
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
11
Merge onto I 80
82 mi·1 hr 28 min·I 80
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
107 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Downtown
15
Turn right onto North Dubuque Street
1.0 mi·2 min·North Dubuque Street
16
Turn left onto Kimball Road
477 ft·21 sec·Kimball Road
17
Keep slight right at fork onto North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi·2 min·North Gilbert Street
18
Arrive at destination
South Gilbert Street
Trip Plan
Given the drive's duration of under 5 hours, you can comfortably depart any time of day and complete it within daylight hours. Plan for one stop to break up the 203.3-mile stretch on I 80; a mid-point rest area or a small town off the interstate would work well. The fuel cost is estimated at $38, so ensure your tank is full before leaving Woodbine to maximize your range. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic or your schedule, but be mindful of potential construction on I 80 during peak travel seasons.
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 121.2 miles from Woodbine, IA, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 203.3 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 53 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.2 miles or 2h 22m 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 47m
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 Woodbine, 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 Woodbine, IA
This is one driving day of about 242.4 miles and 4h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Woodbine, 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 I 80 for about 203.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.4 mi from route
~11 min detour
$1 to $10
mile 242.4
Coralville, Iowa
Hours: 10 am–9 pm
+13196255568
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 133.3 — 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|6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 30 / County Road F50
Turn right onto US 30 / County Road F50
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
5 mi into trip|~7m in|IA 44 / Ia 44
Turn left onto IA 44 / Ia 44
Navigation decision point
9
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.90 one way
$75.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.61
$83.22
premium
$4.89
$46.65
$93.30
diesel
$5.61
$53.52
$107.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.7
0
$25.45
$11.64
Efficient EV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
EV Truck/SUV
97
1
$33.94
$15.51
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Woodbine, IA
Morning
in Woodbine on Sunday
Local time
11:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Iowa City, IA
Morning
in Iowa City on Sunday
Local time
11:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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
4h 38m 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?
This route is heavily focused on the interstate, with an 88% highway share, so expect a significant amount of time on I 80. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 203.3 miles on I 80, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. While the majority of the journey is highway, keep an eye out for the transitions onto 1000th Street and 23rd Street as you approach your destination. This drive offers a predictable, high-speed experience for most of its duration.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 203.3 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and 1000th Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 6th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 242.4 miles you will encounter 12 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 (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 30 / County Road F50): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (IA 44 / Ia 44): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Woodbine, IA and Iowa City, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
Minneapolis
118.9 mi in|~2h 20m|via I 80
Kansas City
118.9 mi in|~2h 20m|via I 80
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 38m. Total distance: 242.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 203.3 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (US 30 / County Road F50): Lane positioning matters here; at 5 miles (IA 44 / Ia 44): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Iowa City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
