How far is Sergeant Bluff, IA from Iowa City, IA?

The driving distance from Sergeant Bluff, IA to Iowa City, IA is about 294.3 miles (473.7 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253 miles (407.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 01m 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
294.37 mi
04h 30m
Flight
253.02 mi
407.19 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sergeant Bluff.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.02 mi
Kilometers
407.19 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
294.37 mi
Kilometers
473.75 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Iowa City
Wed, Apr 29, 10:40 PM CDT
Return by in Sergeant Bluff
Thu, Apr 30, 3:11 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sergeant Bluff
2026-04-29T18:09
Arrive Iowa City
Wed, Apr 29, 10:40 PM CDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 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
7:58 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sergeant Bluff
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
Stuart
IA

Human settlement in Iowa, United States of America

From Sergeant Bluff
152.9 mi
02h 15m
To Iowa City
141.5 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
37°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
44°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sergeant Bluff and Iowa City.

  1. 1

    Start on 4th Street

    37 m · 11 sec · 4th Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto E Street

    1273 ft · 58 sec · E Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 1st Street

    2524 ft · 1 min · 1st Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto I 29 South

    1849 ft · 45 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    69.3 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines

    1.2 km · 2 min

  7. 7

    Continue straight

    16 mi · 17 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines

    1.1 km · 44 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    94.9 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City

    14.4 mi · 17 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    106.9 mi · 1 hr 56 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    2061 ft · 53 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Kimball Road

    145 m · 21 sec · Kimball Road

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · North Gilbert Street

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Gilbert Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 35
121 mi · 41%
I 80 East
95.6 mi · 32%
I 29 South
69.6 mi · 24%
I 880 East
16.8 mi · 6%
North Dubuque Street
0.95 mi
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
Longest Stretch

I 35

Keep slight left

107 mi · 01h 56m

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 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.3 mi
253 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuart
02h 15m from Sergeant Bluff
Leave By
7:58 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Cloudy leaving Sergeant Bluff 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 Sergeant Bluff to Iowa City?

The road trip is about 294.3 miles (473.7 km) and usually takes 04h 30m 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?

Stuart is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.9 miles from Sergeant Bluff and 141.5 miles from Iowa City.

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

The direct path is about 253 miles (407.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.3 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 7:58 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.18 one way or $78.36 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Cloudy around Sergeant Bluff and Chance Rain Showers near Iowa City.

Stop Ideas Near Stuart

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

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

RAIL

Creston

50 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue
RAIL

Osceola

69 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sergeant Bluff and Iowa City. Straight-line distance: 253.02 mi (407.19 km).

Sergeant Bluff

#1 Sergeant Bluff

City in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States of America

Population5,119
Coordinates42.4038800, -96.3586400
Altitude334
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: 4th Street (-96.35864, 42.40386)
End: South Gilbert Street (-91.530165, 41.661126)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 474 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.39 gal
39.32 L · about $39.18
Round trip
$78.36
20.78 gal · 78.64 L
Estimated CO2
92.3 kg one way
Round trip: 184.7 kg / 407 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $39.18 $78.36
Mid-grade $4.25 $44.19 $88.38
Premium $4.65 $48.36 $96.71
Diesel $5.30 $55.11 $110.22

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 29, 2026

There is no time difference between Sergeant Bluff and Iowa City. The current time is 18:09:41.

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.