Towing and Roadside Help on I-80 in Central Iowa, Mile 143 to 237

I-80 from mile 143 to 237: the road and its landmarks

This stretch crosses Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Iowa and Johnson counties. East of Altoona, I-80 returns to four lanes. After Altoona’s third exit it goes back to its 70 mph rural speed limit. US 6 rejoins the interstate at exit 142 and leaves it again at the Iowa 14 exit in Newton (exit 164).

Near Colfax the road crosses the South Skunk River. Past the Iowa 117 interchange (exit 155) it swings north to avoid crossing the river several times. Past the Iowa 224 exit (173) it curves northeast, goes down a hill to cross the North Skunk River and climbs back up. East of Grinnell, rows of wind turbines from the North English wind farm run alongside the road. They are a landmark to give if you have lost track of the mile markers.

By Iowa DOT’s 2025 counts, about 31,500 vehicles a day use this stretch on average, between 25,600 and 42,200 depending on the segment. Roughly 35% of them are trucks.

24-hour truck stops on I-80 from mile 143 to 237

Short of a rest area, three truck stops on these miles list round-the-clock hours. Each is somewhere to wait off the shoulder, if the car can still reach it.

• Exit 168
  Love’s Travel Stop #361 is open 24 hours, with 80 truck spaces and overnight parking.
• Exit 197
  TA Brooklyn sells BP gasoline and diesel 24/7 and keeps a pizza counter open around the clock.
• Exit 201
  Pilot Travel Center #495 is open 24 hours and lists 90 truck spaces.

Call us from the lot and give the store name with the exit number. If the car cannot make an exit, stay in it on the shoulder with the hazard lights on and your belt fastened. Dial 911 if it stopped in a lane or anyone is hurt.

I-80 rest areas from mile 143 to 237

This stretch has three rest-area pairs, each with an eastbound and a westbound side: Mitchellville at milepost 147, Grinnell at milepost 180 and Victor at milepost 208. The Tiffin rest areas at milepost 237 sit at its east end.

The westbound Victor rest area at mile 208 reopened on Feb. 27, 2026, in a new building. It has 75 car and 19 truck spaces, a family restroom and indoor Wi-Fi. Iowa DOT said then that it would close again later in 2026 to rebuild the parking lots, so check Iowa 511 before you count on it.

I-80 closures between mile 143 and 237

At 8:45 p.m. on March 15, 2026, Iowa officials closed I-80 in both directions from mile marker 142 near Altoona to mile marker 240 near Coralville. That took in this whole stretch. CBS2 Iowa reported the next morning that the highway would reopen at noon on Monday, March 16.

On Jan. 12, 2024, Iowa DOT reported I-80 impassable both ways from west of the I-80/I-380 interchange near Iowa City to the west end of Iowa County, near Victor. Drifting, ice and crashed vehicles were the cause. For what to do when it happens again, see when I-80 closes.

Tow and roadside prices from mile 143 to 237

A tow between mile 143 and mile 237 starts at $124, and a winch-out from the median or a ditch at $130. A battery, a replacement tire or a small repair by a mobile mechanic is priced on the call. Jump starts, lockouts and tire changes each carry their own from-price on our price list.

How to give your location between mile 143 and 237

On a stretch of 94 miles, your call has to carry the location. Give the last exit number or green mile marker, your direction, and a landmark if you have one. A rest area, the Skunk River crossings, the speedway or the wind turbines east of Grinnell all help. Call (319) 319-4889, and we give you the price and the timing before anyone is sent. If the car is in a lane, or anyone is hurt, call 911 first.