Origin
Atlantic, IA
Late night in Atlantic on Saturday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atlantic, IA to Sioux City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 26m
Distance
129.5 mi
208 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 16m
★
6 AM
2h 26m
8 AM
2h 46m
10 AM
2h 33m
12 PM
2h 31m
3 PM
2h 34m
5 PM
2h 45m
8 PM
2h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atlantic, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Atlantic, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 129.5 miles and takes about 2h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 29, I 80, I 880 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75.3 miles on I 29. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.23 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.
Midpoint
64.7 miles from Atlantic, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 26m. Total distance: 129.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 26m highway drive covering 129.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 29 and I 80. The longest continuous stretch is about 75.3 miles on I 29.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 29 is the longest continuous segment at about 75.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 80. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Poplar Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 129.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Poplar Street
Turn right onto Poplar Street
Navigation decision point
9
35.5 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
52.2 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
6
128.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
129 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
6th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 29 | 75.3 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 80 | 26.9 mi | 28m |
| I 880 | 16.7 mi | 17m |
| 590th Street | 5 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 83 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| West 6th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Floyd Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Sunnyside Lane | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 29
— 75.3 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atlantic, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on this road
160 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Poplar Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Poplar Street
3
Turn left onto West 6th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West 6th Street
4
Turn right onto Sunnyside Lane
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Sunnyside Lane
5
Turn left onto IA 83
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Marne Road
6
Continue on IA 83
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 83
7
Turn right onto IA 173
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
590th Street
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
9
Merge onto I 80
27 mi
·
28 min
·
I 80
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 880
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
12
Merge onto I 29
75 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 29
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
14
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft
·
14 sec
·
5th Street
16
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft
·
7 sec
·
Iowa Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Court Street
19
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
9th Street
20
Turn right
115 ft
·
8 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 64.7 miles from Atlantic, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.3 miles.
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 28 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.7 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Atlantic, 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 Atlantic, IA
This is one driving day of about 129.5 miles and 2h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Atlantic, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 75.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 64.7 mi from Atlantic, IA · 1h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
65 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.7 miles from Atlantic, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.3 miles.
Arriving in Sioux City, IA
The final approach into Sioux City, 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 Sioux City, 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
$19.23 one way
$38.45 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $21.68 | $43.37 |
| premium | $4.65 | $23.73 | $47.46 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $27.04 | $54.08 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.9 | 0 | $13.60 | $6.22 |
| Efficient EV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.13 | $8.29 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Sioux City, IA
Late night in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
2h 26m 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 Atlantic, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 129.5 miles and takes about 2h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 29, I 80, I 880. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 64.7 miles from Atlantic, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 129.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Poplar Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 52.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Atlantic, IA to Sioux City, 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. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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