Iowa City to Missoula: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1163.9 miles 1873.1 km · straight line
1396.7 miles estimated 2247.7 km · driving distance
28h 6min estimated drive time
$134 - $165 estimated fuel cost
~2h 50min flight time
296° WNW bearing direction

How far is Iowa City from Missoula?

The distance from Iowa City to Missoula is 1163.9 miles (1873.1 km) as the crow flies. Missoula is located WNW of Iowa City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1396.7 miles, taking about 28h 6min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 50min. Both are located in United States — Iowa City in Iowa and Missoula in Montana.

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 Missoula. 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 Missoula

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 28h 6min $134 - $165 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 50min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~33h 43min $112–$210* Budget
Train ~36h 32min $168–$489* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Iowa City & Missoula

Quick Facts

Iowa City
41.66°N, 91.53°W
America/Chicago
204m elevation
Missoula
46.87°N, 114.00°W
America/Denver
978m elevation
Explore more routes from Missoula

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 388 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 97 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 21.4 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients