Origin
Cherokee, IA
Afternoon in Cherokee on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cherokee, IA to Dubuque, IA
Drive Time
4h 25m
Distance
274.9 mi
442 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$42
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 12m
★
6 AM
4h 26m
8 AM
4h 52m
10 AM
4h 35m
12 PM
4h 32m
3 PM
4h 36m
5 PM
4h 51m
8 PM
4h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cherokee, IA
Franco Monsalvo
Dubuque, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Cherokee, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 274.9 miles and takes about 4h 25m 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, East Main Street, Highway 977 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.75 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
137.5 miles from Cherokee, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 25m drive with frequent turns across 274.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cherokee, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 2nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 977 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 530th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| V Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 7 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 20th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South 2nd Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cherokee, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on the route
105 ft
·
13 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
157 ft
·
9 sec
·
South 2nd Street
3
Turn right onto East Main Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
4
Continue on State Highway 977
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
State Highway 977
5
Continue on 530th Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
530th Street
6
Turn right onto V Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
V Avenue
7
Continue on 1st Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
8
Continue on State Highway 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 7
9
Continue on Highway 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 7
10
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
20th Avenue
11
Continue on Armstrong Avenue
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Armstrong Avenue
12
At the end of the road, turn left onto 220th Street
165 mi
·
3 hr 10 min
·
220th Street
13
Keep slight left
81 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
14
Turn left onto South Locust Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Locust Street
15
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
IA 946
16
At the end of the road, turn left
420 ft
·
13 sec
17
Take the exit slight right toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
White Street, Port of Dubuque
18
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
19
Turn left onto East 7th Street
285 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 7th Street
20
Turn left onto Central Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
21
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 137.5 miles from Cherokee, IA, or about 2h 12m 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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.5 miles or 2h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 37m
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 Cherokee, 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 Cherokee, IA
This is one driving day of about 274.9 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Cherokee, 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 137.5 mi from Cherokee, IA · 2h 12m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
137 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 137.5 miles from Cherokee, 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
$41.75 one way
$83.51 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
96 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $46.03 | $92.06 |
| premium | $4.80 | $51.90 | $103.79 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $61.07 | $122.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 82.5 | 1 | $28.86 | $13.20 |
| Efficient EV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.05 | $11.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 110 | 1 | $38.49 | $17.59 |
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
3:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
137 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
7 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cherokee, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 274.9 miles and takes about 4h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South 2nd Street, East Main Street, Highway 977. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 137.5 miles from Cherokee, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.75 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 25m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cherokee, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cherokee, IA to Dubuque, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Dubuque, IA
More from Cherokee, IA
More trips to Dubuque, IA
Explore more options from Cherokee, IA or browse trips ending in Dubuque, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Cherokee, IA or Dubuque, IA on MapSof.net.