Origin
Albia, IA
Late night in Albia on Saturday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 21m
Distance
197.9 mi
319 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 10m
★
6 AM
3h 22m
8 AM
3h 46m
10 AM
3h 30m
12 PM
3h 28m
3 PM
3h 32m
5 PM
3h 45m
8 PM
3h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 197.9 miles and takes about 3h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 2nd Street, Benton Avenue East, North Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
99 miles from Albia, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 197.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 21m drive with frequent turns across 197.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 2nd Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA is easy. At 3h 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 2nd Street | — | — |
| Benton Avenue East | — | — |
| North Main Street | — | — |
| Highway 137 | — | — |
| US 63 North | — | — |
| East Market Street | — | — |
| IA 1 | — | — |
| North Dodge Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albia, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on the route
33 ft
·
4 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
171 ft
·
13 sec
·
South 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto Benton Avenue East
358 ft
·
9 sec
·
Benton Avenue East
4
Turn right onto North Main Street
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
5
Keep slight right to continue on State Highway 137
14 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 137
6
Take the ramp straight
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
7
Merge slight left
7.5 mi
·
8 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
15 mi
·
23 min
·
US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
9
Turn right onto East Market Street
21 mi
·
30 min
·
East Market Street
10
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
11
Merge slight left
54 mi
·
58 min
12
Take the exit slight right toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
IA 1: Mount Vernon
13
Turn left onto North Dodge Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Dodge Street
14
Continue on Highway 1 Northeast
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
15
Continue on South Market Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Market Street
16
Continue on Highway 1 Northeast
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
17
Continue on State Highway 1
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 1
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 1
131 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 1
19
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 1
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 1
20
Continue on 1st Avenue South
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue South
21
Continue on State Highway 1
10 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 1
22
Take the ramp right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
23
Merge slight left
45 mi
·
51 min
24
Keep slight left
5.1 mi
·
7 min
25
Keep slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
26
Take the exit slight right toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
White Street, Port of Dubuque
27
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
28
Turn left onto East 7th Street
285 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 7th Street
29
Turn left onto Central Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 99 miles from Albia, IA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 44 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dubuque, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albia, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albia, IA
This is one driving day of about 197.9 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Albia, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99 mi from Albia, IA · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99 miles from Albia, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dubuque, IA
The final approach into Dubuque, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Dubuque, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.94 one way
$61.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.97 | $67.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.08 | $76.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.69 | $87.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.78 | $9.50 |
| Efficient EV | 49.5 | 0 | $17.32 | $7.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.2 | 0 | $27.71 | $12.67 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
1:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 197.9 miles and takes about 3h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 2nd Street, Benton Avenue East, North Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99 miles from Albia, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.94 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA is easy. At 3h 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Albia, IA to Dubuque, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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