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

The driving distance from Iowa City, IA to Lenox, IA is about 212.4 miles (341.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.4 miles (267.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 30m 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
212.4 mi
04h 15m
Flight
166.38 mi
267.77 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Iowa City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
166.38 mi
Kilometers
267.77 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
212.4 mi
Kilometers
341.82 km
Drive Time
04h 15m

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 04h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lenox
Sun, May 31, 9:57 AM CDT
Return by in Iowa City
Sun, May 31, 2:12 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Iowa City
2026-05-31T05:42
Arrive Lenox
Sun, May 31, 9:57 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM CDT

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

Leave by
8:30 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Iowa City
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
Altoona
IA

City in Polk County, Iowa, United States

From Iowa City
106 mi
02h 07m
To Lenox
106.4 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 mph SE
Destination
82°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight left

    40 mi · 43 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 34: Osceola, Creston

    958 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left

    38.3 mi · 54 min

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Adams-Union Avenue

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Adams-Union Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on State Highway 25

    1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 25

  11. 11

    Turn right onto 110th Street

    4.2 mi · 7 min · 110th Street

  12. 12

    Continue on East Van Buren Street

    3007 ft · 1 min · East Van Buren Street

  13. 13

    Turn left onto North Maple Street

    1399 ft · 1 min · North Maple Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Maple Street

Car Route Details

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

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
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Dubuque Street
161 mi · 76%
Adams-Union Avenue
5.47 mi · 3%
110th Street
4.19 mi · 2%
State Highway 25
1.01 mi
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
East Van Buren Street
0.57 mi
Longest Stretch

North Dubuque Street

Merge slight left

120 mi · 02h 11m

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
04h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+46 mi
166.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Altoona
02h 07m from Iowa City
Leave By
8:30 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy leaving Iowa City and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lenox.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 212.4 miles (341.8 km) and usually takes 04h 15m 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?

Altoona is a useful midpoint, sitting about 106 miles from Iowa City and 106.4 miles from Lenox.

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

The direct path is about 166.4 miles (267.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 46 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 8:30 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.24 one way or $56.49 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy around Iowa City and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Lenox.

Stop Ideas Near Altoona

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Altoona, 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 Altoona.

RAIL

Osceola

72 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

99 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue
RAIL

Ottumwa station

112 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Iowa City and Lenox. Straight-line distance: 166.38 mi (267.77 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 Lenox

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

Population1,386
Coordinates40.8816500, -94.5619100
Altitude395
CountryUnited States
Start: Iowa City (-91.53017, 41.66113)
End: Lenox (-94.56191, 40.88165)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 342 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.49 gal
28.37 L · about $28.24
Round trip
$56.49
14.98 gal · 56.74 L
Estimated CO2
66.6 kg one way
Round trip: 133.1 kg / 293 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.24 $56.49
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.85 $63.71
Premium $4.65 $34.86 $69.72
Diesel $5.30 $39.73 $79.45

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 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Iowa City and Lenox. The current time is 05:42:23.

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.