Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
322.2 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
The drive from Bellevue, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 322.2 miles and takes about 5h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Great River Road, Main Street, Bellevue Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.84 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
161.1 miles from Bellevue, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 9m drive with frequent turns across 322.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Great River Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Bellevue Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 52 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest Arterial | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 20 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 160th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, IA and Sioux City, IA.
Start on South Riverview Street
Continue on Great River Road
Continue on Main Street
Continue on Great River Road
Continue on Bellevue Road
Turn left
Take the exit slight right toward US 52 North
Continue on Southwest Arterial
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Southwest Arterial
Exit the rotary onto Southwest Arterial
Turn left onto US 20 East, US 52 North: Waterloo, Dyersville
Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
Continue on 160th Street
Continue on United States Highway 20
Continue on Highway 20
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Continue on 6th Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Turn right
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.1 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA
This is one driving day of about 322.2 miles and 5h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 161.1 mi from Bellevue, IA · 2h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
161 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 161.1 miles from Bellevue, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$47.84 one way
$95.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $53.95 | $107.90 |
| premium | $4.65 | $59.04 | $118.07 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $67.28 | $134.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.7 | 1 | $33.83 | $15.47 |
| Efficient EV | 80.6 | 0 | $28.19 | $12.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.9 | 1 | $45.11 | $20.62 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Bellevue on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
6:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
161 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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