Iowa City travel guide
Iowa City Tourism | Iowa City Guide
You're Going to Love Iowa City
With a population of 67,862, Iowa City is a must-see destination in Iowa, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Iowa City to see all of its attractions.
Where to Eat in Iowa City
If you’re looking for affordable options, Joseph's Steakhouse of Iowa City (212 South Clinton Street) and Graze (115 E. College St.) are great picks.
When to visit Iowa City
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Iowa City in July, when the average temperature is 75.2 °F, and the highest can go up to 84.2 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 14 °F, with an average temperature of 23 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 5″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Iowa City, with an average rainfall of 0.9″.
How to Get to Iowa City
Plane
Although Iowa City doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Cedar Rapids (CID), which is located 18 miles from Iowa City. Waterloo is the most popular, with regular flights from American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Copa Airlines and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest domestic flight to Iowa City departs from Nashville and takes around 1h 34m.
Car
Another option to get to Iowa City is to pick up a car rental from Madison, which is about 146 miles from Iowa City. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, among others, in Madison.
Bus
Iowa City’s bus station is located 0.4 miles from the city center.
Airlines serving Iowa City
Where to stay in popular areas of Iowa City
Most booked hotels in Iowa City
Renting a car in Iowa City
Renting a car in Iowa City costs $53 per day, on average.
Expect to pay $3.94 per gallon in Iowa City (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $47.24 and $62.99. The most frequently booked car type in Iowa City is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Kia Rio or similar) are, on average, 63% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.
Best car rental deals in Iowa City
Supplier choice
5 Adults, 5 Bags
$28/day
Compact
4 Adults, 2 Bags
$29/day