The drive from Dubuque, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA covers 147 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, US 151, Lincoln Freeway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 66 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.98 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
73.5 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 147 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA covers 147 miles and takes about 2h 55m, 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 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 66 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 9 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 70.4 miles (US 151): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These 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
6
70.4 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|US 151
Keep slight right at fork onto US 151 toward US 30 West, US 151 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South: Cedar Rapids
5
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South:...
4
146.8 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|West Warren Street
Turn right onto West Warren Street
Navigation decision point
5
147 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|South White Street
Turn left onto South White Street
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 Dubuque, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
77.2 mi in|~1h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
66 mi
1h 15m
US 151
64.9 mi
1h 16m
Lincoln Freeway
6.4 mi
7m
US 61
5.6 mi
7m
Iowa Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
North Broadway Street
1.3 mi
3m
North Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
1m
Central Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 66 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Mount Pleasant, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 189AToward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Continue on US 61; US 151
5.6 mi·7 min·US 61; US 151
4
Take the exit onto US 151
57 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 151
5
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
7.5 mi·9 min·US 151; IA 13
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 151
0.4 mi·38 sec·US 151
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South: Cedar Rapids
7
Merge onto US 30; US 151
6.4 mi·7 min·Lincoln Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
9
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
66 mi·1 hr 15 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Turn right onto Iowa Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·Iowa Avenue
11
Continue on North Broadway Street
1.3 mi·3 min·North Broadway Street
12
Continue on North Jefferson Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North Jefferson Street
13
Turn right onto West Warren Street
0.1 mi·38 sec·West Warren Street
14
Turn left onto South White Street
58 ft·2 sec·South White Street
15
Arrive at destination
South White Street
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 73.5 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66 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 32 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.5 miles or 1h 27m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Pleasant, 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 147 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 66 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.5 mi from Dubuque, IA
· 1h 27m into the drive
The midpoint is around 73.5 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 66 miles.
Arriving in Mount Pleasant, IA
The final approach into Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Old 218 Tap
4.6
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Hills, Iowa
Later in the drive, right off the route
0.5 mi from route
~1 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 105
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.98 one way
$45.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.23
$50.47
premium
$4.89
$28.29
$56.58
diesel
$5.61
$32.46
$64.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.1
0
$15.43
$7.06
Efficient EV
36.8
0
$12.86
$5.88
EV Truck/SUV
58.8
0
$20.58
$9.41
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
11:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mount Pleasant, IA
Morning
in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
11:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Marion, IA
74 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
27 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
2h 55m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA covers 147 miles and takes about 2h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 151, Lincoln Freeway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.5 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 $22.98 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 is a straightforward 2h 55m drive. You will face about 9 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 70.4 miles (US 151): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Dubuque, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
