Great Falls to Iowa City: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1049.6 miles 1689.1 km · straight line
1259.5 miles estimated 2026.9 km · driving distance
25h 20min estimated drive time
$121 - $149 estimated fuel cost
~2h 37min flight time
105° ESE bearing direction

How far is Great Falls from Iowa City?

The distance from Great Falls to Iowa City is 1049.6 miles (1689.1 km) as the crow flies. Iowa City is located ESE of Great Falls. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1259.5 miles, taking about 25h 20min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 37min. Both are located in United States — Great Falls in Montana and Iowa City in Iowa.

This is a serious multi-day road trip! We strongly recommend breaking this journey up with an overnight stay to ensure you arrive safely and refreshed. Heading East means you'll be driving into the sunrise if you start early. Keep your windshield clean for the best visibility. For a trip of this distance, flying is significantly faster. However, driving offers the flexibility to explore stops along the way.

Coordinates come from public place data for Great Falls and Iowa City. The driving distance is estimated from straight-line distance with a road-factor model, so confirm the route in your navigation app. Fuel, flight, bus, and train values are planning estimates and can change by date, provider, road closures, and border rules.

How to Get from Great Falls to Iowa City

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 25h 20min $121 - $149 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 37min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~30h 24min $101–$189* Budget
Train ~32h 56min $151–$441* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Great Falls & Iowa City

Quick Facts

Great Falls
47.50°N, 111.30°W
America/Denver
1015m elevation
Iowa City
41.66°N, 91.53°W
America/Chicago
204m elevation
Explore more routes from Iowa City

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 350 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 87 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 23.7 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients