How far is Carroll, IA from Iowa City, IA?

The driving distance from Carroll, IA to Iowa City, IA is about 191.4 miles (308 km), with a travel time of about 03h 11m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 173.9 miles (279.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 22m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
191.39 mi
03h 11m
Flight
173.95 mi
279.94 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Carroll.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
173.95 mi
Kilometers
279.94 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
191.39 mi
Kilometers
308.01 km
Drive Time
03h 11m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 11m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Iowa City
Tue, May 12, 10:04 PM CDT
Return by in Carroll
Wed, May 13, 1:16 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Carroll
2026-05-12T18:53
Arrive Iowa City
Tue, May 12, 10:04 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 11m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Carroll
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Melbourne
IA

City in Iowa, United States of America

From Carroll
95.5 mi
01h 35m
To Iowa City
95.9 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
80°F
Today

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 9:00 AM CDT
Wind
17 to 23 mph W
Destination
81°F
Tuesday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Carroll and Iowa City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Carroll and Iowa City.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    39 m · 12 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right

    23 m · 11 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto East 6th Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · East 6th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on County Road N33

    10.3 mi · 14 min · County Road N33

  5. 5

    Continue on 220th Street

    44.4 mi · 59 min · 220th Street

  6. 6

    Continue on 230th Street

    77.2 mi · 1 hr 29 min · 230th Street

  7. 7

    Continue on 73rd Street

    33.4 mi · 39 min · 73rd Street

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport

    2293 ft · 39 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    15.4 mi · 17 min · Avenue of the Saints

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    2061 ft · 53 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Kimball Road

    145 m · 21 sec · Kimball Road

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · North Gilbert Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Gilbert Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Carroll and Iowa City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
17 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
230th Street
77.2 mi · 40%
220th Street
44.4 mi · 23%
73rd Street
33.4 mi · 17%
Avenue of the Saints
15.4 mi · 8%
County Road N33
10.3 mi · 5%
I 80 East
5.42 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

230th Street

Continue on 230th Street

77.2 mi · 01h 29m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 11m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+17.5 mi
173.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Melbourne
01h 35m from Carroll
Leave By
10:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny leaving Carroll and Chance Rain Showers near Iowa City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Carroll to Iowa City?

The road trip is about 191.4 miles (308 km) and usually takes 03h 11m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Melbourne is a useful midpoint, sitting about 95.5 miles from Carroll and 95.9 miles from Iowa City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 173.9 miles (279.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 17.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.45 one way or $50.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 60 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny around Carroll and Chance Rain Showers near Iowa City.

Stop Ideas Near Melbourne

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Melbourne, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Melbourne.

RAIL

Osceola

115 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

117 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Carroll and Iowa City. Straight-line distance: 173.95 mi (279.94 km).

Carroll

#1 Carroll

City in Carroll County, Iowa, United States

Population9,694
Coordinates42.0658200, -94.8669300
Altitude387
CountryUnited States
Iowa City

#2 Iowa City

The most populous city in Johnson County, Iowa.

Population75,130
Coordinates41.6611300, -91.5301700
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Start: (-94.866824, 42.065795)
End: South Gilbert Street (-91.530165, 41.661126)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 308 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 47m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 49m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 11m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 44m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 23m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.75 gal
25.56 L · about $25.45
Round trip
$50.91
13.5 gal · 51.12 L
Estimated CO2
60 kg one way
Round trip: 120 kg / 265 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $25.45 $50.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $28.71 $57.42
Premium $4.65 $31.41 $62.83
Diesel $5.30 $35.80 $71.60

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Carroll and Iowa City. The current time is 18:53:32.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.