Iowa City to Salt Lake City: Road Trip Guide & Distance

1057.7 miles 1702.2 km · straight line
1269.2 miles estimated 2042.6 km · driving distance
25h 32min estimated drive time
$122 - $150 estimated fuel cost
~2h 38min flight time
273° W bearing direction

How far is Iowa City from Salt Lake City?

The distance from Iowa City to Salt Lake City is 1057.7 miles (1702.2 km) as the crow flies. Salt Lake City is located W of Iowa City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1269.2 miles, taking about 25h 32min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 38min. Both are located in United States — Iowa City in Iowa and Salt Lake City in Utah.

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 Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake City

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 25h 32min $122 - $150 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 38min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~30h 38min $102–$190* Budget
Train ~33h 12min $152–$444* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Iowa City & Salt Lake City

Quick Facts

Iowa City
41.66°N, 91.53°W
America/Chicago
204m elevation
Salt Lake City
40.76°N, 111.89°W
America/Denver
1288m elevation
Explore more routes from Salt Lake City

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 353 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 88 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 23.5 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients