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

The driving distance from Iowa City, IA to Villisca, IA is about 227.1 miles (365.5 km), with a travel time of about 04h 24m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 185.9 miles (299.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 48m 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
227.09 mi
04h 24m
Flight
185.86 mi
299.12 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
185.86 mi
Kilometers
299.12 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
227.09 mi
Kilometers
365.47 km
Drive Time
04h 24m

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 24m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Villisca
Sun, Apr 12, 10:07 AM CDT
Return by in Iowa City
Sun, Apr 12, 2:32 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Iowa City
2026-04-12T05:43
Arrive Villisca
Sun, Apr 12, 10:07 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 24m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:24 AM to 12:24 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
8:12 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
Johnston
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Iowa City
113.3 mi
02h 12m
To Villisca
113.8 mi
02h 12m

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
74°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 12 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
18 to 23 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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 right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    62.3 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon

    1922 ft · 49 sec

  8. 8

    Turn left onto 650th Street

    6.5 mi · 9 min · 650th Street

  9. 9

    Turn right onto East 7th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · East 7th Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Whitney Street

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Whitney Street

  11. 11

    Continue on 630th Street

    30.8 mi · 42 min · 630th Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto West High Street

    99 m · 11 sec · West High Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North U Avenue

    1924 ft · 58 sec · North U Avenue

  14. 14

    Turn left onto West 3rd Street

    2595 ft · 52 sec · West 3rd Street

  15. 15

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East 3rd Street

Car Route Details

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

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
15 steps
9 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
121 mi · 53%
I 80 West
62.3 mi · 27%
630th Street
30.8 mi · 14%
650th Street
6.52 mi · 3%
East 7th Street
2 mi · 1%
Whitney Street
1.75 mi · 1%
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 24m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.2 mi
185.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Johnston
02h 12m from Iowa City
Leave By
8:12 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Iowa City and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Villisca.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 227.1 miles (365.5 km) and usually takes 04h 24m 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?

Johnston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 113.3 miles from Iowa City and 113.8 miles from Villisca.

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

The direct path is about 185.9 miles (299.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.2 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 8:12 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $30.21 one way or $60.41 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Johnston

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

71 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

88 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Iowa City and Villisca. Straight-line distance: 185.86 mi (299.12 km).

Iowa City

#1 Iowa City

The most populous city in Johnson County, Iowa.

Population75,130
Coordinates41.6611300, -91.5301700
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Villisca

#2 Villisca

City in Montgomery County, Iowa, United States

Population1,143
Coordinates40.9297100, -94.9760900
Altitude328
CountryUnited States
Start: Iowa City (-91.53017, 41.66113)
End: Villisca (-94.97609, 40.92971)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 365 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 47m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 14m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.01 gal
30.33 L · about $30.21
Round trip
$60.41
16.02 gal · 60.66 L
Estimated CO2
71.2 kg one way
Round trip: 142.4 kg / 314 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $30.21 $60.41
Mid-grade $4.25 $34.07 $68.13
Premium $4.65 $37.28 $74.56
Diesel $5.30 $42.49 $84.97

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 Villisca. The current time is 05:43:37.

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.