The drive from Charles City, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 141.9 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, Avenue of the Saints, Leo P Rooff Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.4 miles on US 20.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.18 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
70.9 miles from Charles City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 141.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (67%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 52m highway drive covering 141.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.4 miles on US 20.
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.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 81.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Avenue of the Saints. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 53.2 miles in near I 380.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 141.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 53.2 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.3 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
141.3 mi into trip|~2h 50m in|US 61; US 151
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
141.4 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Take the exit toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
5
141.8 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
141.8 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Charles City, IA to Dubuque, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cedar Falls along the way.
Cedar Falls
53.2 mi in|~1h 5m|via I 380
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
81.4 mi
1h 36m
Avenue of the Saints
41.2 mi
47m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.7 mi
8m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
Washington Street
2.4 mi
3m
Shadow Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
South Grand Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Brantingham Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 81.4 mi, about 1h 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charles City, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on US 18
31 ft·2 sec·4th Avenue
2
Continue on US 18
0.3 mi·1 min·Brantingham Street
3
Turn left onto US 18; US 218 Business
383 ft·10 sec·Gilbert Street
4
Continue on US 18; US 218 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·South Grand Avenue
5
Continue on US 18; US 218 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·Shadow Avenue
6
Take the ramp onto US 218 Business
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 218 Business
7
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
41 mi·47 min·Avenue of the Saints
8
Take the exit
317 ft·7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
9
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
10
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi·8 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
11
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi·3 min·Washington Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 20
14
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
15
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi·20 sec·IA 946
Toward IA 946
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft·13 sec·US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
18
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
19
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
20
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.9 miles from Charles City, IA, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.4 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 31 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.9 miles or 1h 26m 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 20m
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 Charles City, 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 Charles City, IA
This is one driving day of about 141.9 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Charles City, 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.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 81.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.9 mi from Charles City, IA
· 1h 26m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.18 one way
$44.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.36
$48.72
premium
$4.89
$27.31
$54.61
diesel
$5.61
$31.33
$62.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
5 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Tesla Supercharger
Waterloo, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Charles City, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Waterloo, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Shell Rock, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Charles City, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge: 2
Blink: 2
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.6
0
$14.90
$6.81
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
EV Truck/SUV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Charles City, IA
Late night
in Charles City on Saturday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
2:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
71 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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
2h 52m 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 Charles City, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 141.9 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Avenue of the Saints, Leo P Rooff Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.9 miles from Charles City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.18 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 141.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 53.2 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141.3 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Charles City, IA to Dubuque, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cedar Falls along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
