Origin
Dubuque, IA
Late night in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Fort Madison, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 20m
Distance
168 mi
270 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 9m
★
6 AM
3h 21m
8 AM
3h 45m
10 AM
3h 29m
12 PM
3h 27m
3 PM
3h 31m
5 PM
3h 44m
8 PM
3h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Fort Madison, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Fort Madison, IA covers 168 miles and takes about 3h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 61, James L Hodges Avenue, 140th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.4 miles on US 61. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.26 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
84 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 168 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Fort Madison, IA covers 168 miles and takes about 3h 20m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 61 is the longest continuous segment at about 77.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.9 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.5 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 South, US 151 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
5
70.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
US 61
Take the exit onto US 61 toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock...
5
77.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
US 61
Take the exit onto US 61 toward US 61 South: West River Drive, Muscatine
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 61 South: West River Drive, Muscatine
4
77.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
US 61 / West River Drive
Turn right onto US 61 / West River Drive
Navigation decision point
5
168 mi into trip
|
~3h 20m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dubuque, IA and Fort Madison, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Muscatine.
Moline
70.9 mi in
|
~1h 24m
|
via US 61
Muscatine
77.5 mi in
|
~1h 32m
|
via US 61
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 | 77.4 mi | 1h 32m |
| James L Hodges Avenue | 27.6 mi | 33m |
| 140th Street | 20.3 mi | 22m |
| Grandview Avenue | 18 mi | 20m |
| 354th Avenue | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Douglas King Memorial Expressway | 7.2 mi | 8m |
| 71st Street | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| Highway 61 | 1.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Fort Madison, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Continue on US 61; US 151
65 mi
·
1 hr 16 min
·
US 61; US 151
4
Take the exit onto US 61
5.3 mi
·
6 min
·
US 61
5
Take the exit onto US 61
6.6 mi
·
7 min
·
US 61
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
6
Take the exit onto US 61
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 61
Toward US 61 South: West River Drive, Muscatine
7
Turn right onto US 61
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
West River Drive
8
Continue on US 61
20 mi
·
22 min
·
140th Street
9
Continue on US 61; IA 22; IA 92
7.2 mi
·
8 min
·
Douglas King Memorial Expressway
10
Turn right onto US 61; IA 92
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Grandview Avenue
11
Continue on US 61
28 mi
·
33 min
·
James L Hodges Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 61
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
71st Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 61
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 61
14
Continue on US 61
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
71st Street
15
Continue on US 61
4.8 mi
·
5 min
·
354th Avenue
16
Take the exit onto US 61 Business
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
US 61 Business
17
Turn left onto US 61 Business
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
354th Avenue
18
Continue on US 61 Business
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
2nd Street
19
Turn slight right onto US 61 Business
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue H
20
Turn left onto Avenue I
139 ft
·
12 sec
·
Avenue I
21
Turn left
61 ft
·
4 sec
22
Arrive at 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 84 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 40m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Madison, 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 168 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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.
The longest stretch is on US 61 for about 77.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84 mi from Dubuque, IA · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 61 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.4 miles.
Arriving in Fort Madison, IA
The final approach into Fort Madison, 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 Fort Madison, 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
$26.26 one way
$52.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $28.84 | $57.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.33 | $64.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.09 | $74.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.64 | $8.06 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.70 | $6.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.52 | $10.75 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Fort Madison, IA
Late night in Fort Madison on Saturday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
26 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
3h 20m 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 Dubuque, IA to Fort Madison, IA covers 168 miles and takes about 3h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61, James L Hodges Avenue, 140th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84 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 $26.26 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 20m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.9 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.5 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Dubuque, IA and Fort Madison, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Muscatine.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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