Iowa City to Rapid City: Road Trip Guide & Distance

615 miles 989.8 km · straight line
738.1 miles estimated 1187.8 km · driving distance
14h 51min estimated drive time
$71 - $87 estimated fuel cost
~1h 44min flight time
290° WNW bearing direction

How far is Iowa City from Rapid City?

The distance from Iowa City to Rapid City is 615 miles (989.8 km) as the crow flies. Rapid City is located WNW of Iowa City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 738.1 miles, taking about 14h 51min. A direct flight would take roughly 1h 44min. Both are located in United States — Iowa City in Iowa and Rapid City in South Dakota.

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.

Coordinates come from public place data for Iowa City and Rapid 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 Iowa City to Rapid City

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 14h 51min $71 - $87 Flexible stops
Fly ~1h 44min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~17h 49min $59–$111* Budget
Train ~19h 18min $89–$258* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Iowa City & Rapid City

Quick Facts

Iowa City
41.66°N, 91.53°W
America/Chicago
204m elevation
Rapid City
44.08°N, 103.23°W
America/Chicago
966m elevation
Explore more routes from Rapid City

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 205 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 51 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 40.5 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients