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

The driving distance from Iowa City, IA to Aplington, IA is about 115.9 miles (186.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 94.3 miles (151.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
115.87 mi
02h 20m
Flight
94.25 mi
151.68 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Iowa City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
94.25 mi
Kilometers
151.68 km
Flight Time
00h 11m

Driving Distance

Road route
115.87 mi
Kilometers
186.48 km
Drive Time
02h 20m

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 02h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Aplington
Sun, Apr 12, 9:50 AM CDT
Return by in Iowa City
Sun, Apr 12, 12:11 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Iowa City
2026-04-12T07:29
Arrive Aplington
Sun, Apr 12, 9:50 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:21 AM to 12:21 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:48 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Iowa City
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Brandon
IA

City in Iowa

From Iowa City
57.9 mi
01h 10m
To Aplington
58 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 1:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph S
Destination
72°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 to 28 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Gilbert Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · South Gilbert Street

  2. 2

    Turn slight left onto Kimball Road

    145 m · 22 sec · Kimball Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

  4. 4

    Turn left

    2315 ft · 59 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    4.1 mi · 5 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 380, US 218, IA 27

    1850 ft · 45 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 380, US 218 North, IA 27 North: Cedar Rapids, Waterloo

    3219 ft · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    70.8 mi · 1 hr 19 min · Avenue of the Saints

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints

    23.5 mi · 27 min · Avenue of the Saints

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

    2083 ft · 54 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right

    7.4 mi · 11 min

  12. 12

    Turn left onto 6th Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 6th Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Buswell Street

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Buswell Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Parrott Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
94.2 mi · 81%
North Dubuque Street
5.22 mi · 5%
Buswell Street
4.93 mi · 4%
6th Street
1.42 mi · 1%
I 380
0.96 mi · 1%
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

70.8 mi · 01h 19m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 20m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+21.6 mi
94.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brandon
01h 10m from Iowa City
Leave By
1:48 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Iowa City and Rain Showers Likely near Aplington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 115.9 miles (186.5 km) and usually takes 02h 20m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Brandon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 57.9 miles from Iowa City and 58 miles from Aplington.

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

The direct path is about 94.3 miles (151.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 21.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:48 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $15.42 one way or $30.85 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 36.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Iowa City and Rain Showers Likely near Aplington.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Iowa City and Aplington. Straight-line distance: 94.25 mi (151.68 km).

Iowa City

#1 Iowa City

The most populous city in Johnson County, Iowa.

Population75,130
Coordinates41.6611300, -91.5301700
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Aplington

Human settlement in Butler County, Iowa, United States of America

Population1,039
Coordinates42.5841500, -92.8843600
Altitude297
CountryUnited States
Start: Iowa City (-91.53017, 41.66113)
End: Aplington (-92.88436, 42.58415)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 186 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 51m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 55m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.09 gal
15.48 L · about $15.42
Round trip
$30.85
8.18 gal · 30.96 L
Estimated CO2
36.3 kg one way
Round trip: 72.7 kg / 160 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $15.42 $30.85
Mid-grade $4.25 $17.39 $34.79
Premium $4.65 $19.03 $38.07
Diesel $5.30 $21.69 $43.39

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 · Apr 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Iowa City and Aplington. The current time is 07:29:34.

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.