Origin
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon in Dubuque on Monday
Local time
3:29 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Carter Lake, IA
Drive Time
6h 19m
Distance
326.1 mi
525 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 6m
★
6 AM
6h 19m
8 AM
6h 44m
10 AM
6h 28m
12 PM
6h 25m
3 PM
6h 29m
5 PM
6h 43m
8 PM
6h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Carter Lake, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Carter Lake, IA covers 326.1 miles and takes about 6h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 61 South, US 30 West, 16th Avenue Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.53 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
163 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 19m drive with frequent turns across 326.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 61 South 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
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 19m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to Carter Lake, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 30 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 16th Avenue Southwest | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 73rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lincoln Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 330 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 61 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Carter Lake, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp straight toward US 61 South, US 151 South
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Continue straight
5.6 mi
·
7 min
4
Take the exit slight right
57 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
5
Turn left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
6
Turn right
15 mi
·
19 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
8
Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
9
Continue on 73rd Street
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
10
Continue on Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
12
Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
13
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
15
Continue straight
5.6 mi
·
6 min
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
96 mi
·
1 hr 42 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
17
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska
18
Keep slight right to continue on I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Bluffs
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 29 North, I 80 West Local: Council Bluffs
19
Continue on I 29 North: Sioux City
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
I 29 North: Sioux City
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 480 West, US 6 West
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
I 480 West, US 6 West
21
Take the exit slight right toward 14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
14th Street, Old Market District, Creighton University
22
Turn right onto North 14th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 14th Street
23
Turn right onto Izard Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
Izard Street
24
Continue on North 11th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
North 11th Street
25
Turn right onto East Locust Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Locust Street
26
Turn left onto North 9th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 9th Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 163 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 3h 9m 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 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 163 miles or 3h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carter Lake, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, IA
This is one driving day of about 326.1 miles and 6h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Dubuque, 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 163 mi from Dubuque, IA · 3h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
163 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 163 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Carter Lake, IA
The final approach into Carter Lake, 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 Carter Lake, 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
$49.53 one way
$99.06 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
114 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $54.60 | $109.20 |
| premium | $4.80 | $61.56 | $123.12 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $72.45 | $144.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.8 | 1 | $34.24 | $15.65 |
| Efficient EV | 81.5 | 0 | $28.53 | $13.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 130.4 | 1 | $45.65 | $20.87 |
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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
Carter Lake, IA
Afternoon in Carter Lake on Monday
Local time
3:29 PM
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
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
6h 19m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Carter Lake, IA covers 326.1 miles and takes about 6h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61 South, US 30 West, 16th Avenue Southwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 163 miles from Dubuque, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 19m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to Carter Lake, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dubuque, IA to Carter Lake, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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