U.S. 218

U.S. 218 travels just 319 miles overall between Keokuk, in southeastern Iowa, and Owatonna, Minnesota. The 273 mile route within Iowa is mostly four lane, with exceptions south of Donnellson, between southeast Benton County and Evansdale, and north of Floyd. U.S. 218 travels as a full freeway from Riverside north to Cedar Rapids as part of the Avenue of the Saints Corridor (Iowa 27) and partially alongside Interstate 380. Other freeway segments exist at Mount Pleasant, Waverly and Charles City.

The Avenue of the Saints is a multi-lane route linking St. Louis with the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Upgrades along U.S. 218 as part of the Avenue of the Saints Corridor took place from 1991 to 2006.¹ The corridor overlaps with U.S. 61 or U.S. 218 for the bulk of route from Ladue, Missouri to Floyd, Iowa.

The U.S. 218 expressway and freeway south of Interstate 80 was opened in stages from 1982 to May 23, 2006. The portion along Interstate 380 was completed between 1973 and 1976. Four laning of U.S. 218 north from Cedar Falls to Floyd took place between 1994 and 2003.

U.S. 218 Iowa Guides

North

Keokuk to Donnellson - 39 photos

Mount Pleasant to Olds - 36 photos

Crawfordsville to Iowa City - 54 photos

Coralville to Cedar Rapids - 35 photos

Waterloo to Cedar Falls - 37 photos

South

Waverly - 4 photos

Waterloo - 11 photos

Iowa City to Crawfordsville - 45 photos

Olds to Mount Pleasant - 32 photos

Donnellson to Keokuk - 24 photos

Business Routes

Mount Pleasant - 8 photos

Waverly - 6 photos

scenes

County Route F46 (IWV Road) east becomes Melrose Avenue in Iowa City ahead of a diamond interchange (Exit 93) with U.S. 218/Iowa 27.

12/29/23

Melrose Avenue continues east from U.S. 218/Iowa 27 to the University of Iowa campus. U.S. 218 becomes Interstate 380 at the succeeding exit to the north.

12/29/23