Iowa City to Yellowstone: Road Trip Guide & Distance

978.8 miles 1575.2 km · straight line
1174.5 miles estimated 1890.2 km · driving distance
23h 38min estimated drive time
$113 - $139 estimated fuel cost
~2h 28min flight time
288° WNW bearing direction

How far is Iowa City from Yellowstone?

The distance from Iowa City to Yellowstone is 978.8 miles (1575.2 km) as the crow flies. Yellowstone is located WNW of Iowa City. By car, the driving distance is approximately 1174.5 miles, taking about 23h 38min. A direct flight would take roughly 2h 28min. Both are located in United States — Iowa City in Iowa and Yellowstone in Wyoming.

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 Yellowstone. 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 Yellowstone

Method Time Est. Cost Best For
Drive 23h 38min $113 - $139 Flexible stops
Fly ~2h 28min $80–200* Speed
Bus ~28h 22min $94–$176* Budget
Train ~30h 43min $141–$411* Comfort

Suggested Stops Between Iowa City & Yellowstone

Quick Facts

Iowa City
41.66°N, 91.53°W
America/Chicago
204m elevation
Yellowstone
44.43°N, 110.59°W
America/Denver
2357m elevation
Explore more routes from Yellowstone

Did You Know?

  • At walking speed (3 mph), it would take about 326 hours of non-stop walking
  • By bicycle at 12 mph, the journey would take roughly 82 hours
  • You could travel this distance about 25.4 times to circle the Earth's equator
Data Sources & Estimate Notes GeoNames · OpenStreetMap · Driving distance estimated using road factor coefficients