Origin
Dubuque, IA
Evening in Dubuque on Thursday
Local time
5:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Orange, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
92.3 mi
149 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 44m
★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 9m
10 AM
1h 58m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 59m
5 PM
2h 8m
8 PM
1h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Orange, IA
Laura Lumimaa
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Orange, IA covers 92.3 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dodge Street, Hawkeye Road, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87 miles on Dodge Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.43 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.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 92.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 92.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Dodge Street is the longest continuous segment at about 87 miles.
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. 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 1h 52m drive. You will face about 8 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 87.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
4
87.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
89.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
6
89.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 47m in
Turn left toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
4
91.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
|
East Orange Road
Turn right onto East Orange Road
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dodge Street | 87 mi | 1h 43m |
| Hawkeye Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| East Orange Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Locust Street Conn | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Kimball Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Dodge Street
— 87 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Orange, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Turn right onto IA 946
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Locust Street Conn
4
Turn right onto US 20
87 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Dodge Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
7
Turn left
102 ft
·
8 sec
Toward IA 21: Hawkeye Road, Dysart
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto IA 21
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Hawkeye Road
9
Turn right onto East Orange Road
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
East Orange Road
10
Turn left onto Kimball Avenue
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Kimball Avenue
11
Arrive at destination
Kimball 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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.2 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dubuque, IA
This is one driving day of about 92.3 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Dubuque, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Dodge Street for about 87 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.2 mi from Dubuque, IA · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.2 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Dodge Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87 miles.
Arriving in Orange, IA
The final approach into Orange, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.43 one way
$28.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.84 | $31.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.76 | $35.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.38 | $40.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
| Efficient EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.08 | $3.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.9 | 0 | $12.92 | $5.91 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Orange, IA
Evening in Orange on Thursday
Local time
5:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°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
24 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
1h 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 Dubuque, IA to Orange, IA covers 92.3 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dodge Street, Hawkeye Road, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.2 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 $14.43 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 52m drive. You will face about 8 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 87.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Dubuque, IA to Orange, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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