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

The driving distance from Urbana, IA to Iowa City, IA is about 50 miles (80.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.8 miles (68.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 43m 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
49.96 mi
00h 51m
Flight
42.73 mi
68.77 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Urbana.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.73 mi
Kilometers
68.77 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
49.96 mi
Kilometers
80.41 km
Drive Time
00h 51m

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 00h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Iowa City
Fri, Apr 17, 8:20 AM CDT
Return by in Urbana
Fri, Apr 17, 9:12 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Urbana
2026-04-17T07:29
Arrive Iowa City
Fri, Apr 17, 8:20 AM CDT
Route Timing
00h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:52 AM to 10:52 AM CDT

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

Leave by
4:46 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Urbana
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
Cedar Rapids
IA

The second most populous city in Iowa.

From Urbana
24.9 mi
00h 25m
To Iowa City
25.1 mi
00h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
80°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Wood Street

    795 ft · 27 sec · West Wood Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Union Avenue

    1153 ft · 24 sec · Union Avenue

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 55th Street

    758 ft · 13 sec · 55th Street

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    1418 ft · 35 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    41 mi · 46 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    2061 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Kimball Road

    145 m · 21 sec · Kimball Road

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · North Gilbert Street

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Gilbert Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Urbana 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
13 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
26 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
41 mi · 82%
I 80 East
5.42 mi · 11%
North Dubuque Street
0.95 mi · 2%
North Gilbert Street
0.8 mi · 2%
55th Street
0.41 mi · 1%
Downtown
0.39 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

41 mi · 00h 46m

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
00h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+7.2 mi
42.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cedar Rapids
00h 25m from Urbana
Leave By
4:46 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Urbana and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Iowa City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 50 miles (80.4 km) and usually takes 00h 51m 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?

Cedar Rapids is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.9 miles from Urbana and 25.1 miles from Iowa City.

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

The direct path is about 42.8 miles (68.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 7.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:46 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $6.64 one way or $13.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Urbana and Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Iowa City.

Stop Ideas Near Cedar Rapids

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

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

BUS

Davenport, Iowa

104 mi away
304 West River Drive
BUS

Rock Island, IL

107 mi away
3500 5th Avenue
BUS

Moline, Illinois

113 mi away
1200 River Drive
RAIL

Mount Pleasant

116 mi away
418 North Adams Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Urbana and Iowa City. Straight-line distance: 42.73 mi (68.77 km).

Urbana

#1 Urbana

City in Benton County, Iowa, United States

Population1,498
Coordinates42.2241600, -91.8743400
Altitude286
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: West Wood Street (-91.874335, 42.22395)
End: South Gilbert Street (-91.530165, 41.661126)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 80 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 49m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 42m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.76 gal
6.67 L · about $6.64
Round trip
$13.27
3.52 gal · 13.34 L
Estimated CO2
15.6 kg one way
Round trip: 31.3 kg / 69 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $6.64 $13.27
Mid-grade $4.25 $7.49 $14.97
Premium $4.65 $8.19 $16.38
Diesel $5.30 $9.34 $18.67

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Urbana and Iowa City. The current time is 07:29:01.

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.