Iowa City to Mammoth Lakes: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1479.3 miles 2380.7 km · straight line
1775.1 miles estimated 2856.8 km · driving distance
35h 43min estimated drive time
$171 - $210 estimated fuel cost
~3h 29min flight time
268° W bearing direction

How far is Iowa City from Mammoth Lakes?

The distance from Iowa City to Mammoth Lakes is 1479.3 miles (2380.7 km) as the crow flies. Mammoth Lakes is located W of Iowa City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1775.1 miles, taking about 35h 43min. A direct flight would take roughly 3h 29min. Both are located in United States — Iowa City in Iowa and Mammoth Lakes in California.

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. Since you'll be heading mostly West, pack a good pair of sunglasses if you plan to drive during the late afternoon to avoid the harsh sun glare. 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 Iowa City and Mammoth Lakes. 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 Iowa City to Mammoth Lakes

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 35h 43min $171 - $210 Flexible stops
Fly ~3h 29min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~42h 52min $142–$266* Budget
Train ~46h 26min $213–$621* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Iowa City & Mammoth Lakes

Quick Facts

Iowa City
41.66°N, 91.53°W
America/Chicago
204m elevation
Mammoth Lakes
37.65°N, 118.97°W
America/Los_Angeles
2400m elevation
Explore more routes from Mammoth Lakes

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 493 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 123 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 16.8 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients