The drive from Dubuque, IA to Red Oak, IA covers 306.9 miles and takes about 6h 14m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, US 151, Lincoln Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 67.9 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.98 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
153.4 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 14m. Total distance: 306.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (52%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Red Oak, IA covers 306.9 miles and takes about 6h 14m, 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 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 67.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 306.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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
5
79.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
5
144.1 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
7
178.8 mi into trip|~3h 31m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
7
197.4 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
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 Red Oak, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown, Des Moines and Audubon.
Marshalltown
79.3 mi in|~1h 35m
Des Moines
144.1 mi in|~2h 50m
Audubon
259.7 mi in|~5h 1m|via US 6
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
67.9 mi
1h 13m
US 151
58.1 mi
1h 7m
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi
39m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
IA 100
15.2 mi
18m
110 Street
14 mi
20m
US 65
13 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 67.9 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Red Oak, 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
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
6
Turn right onto IA 100
15 mi·18 min·IA 100
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
8
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
9
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
10
Continue on US 30
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
12
Turn left onto IA 330
34 mi·39 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
13
Continue on US 65; IA 330
0.7 mi·58 sec·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
14
Take the exit onto US 65
13 mi·15 min·US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi·6 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto US 6
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 6
Toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
18
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.5 mi·9 min·650th Street
19
Turn right onto US 6; US 71
3.5 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
20
Continue on US 6; IA 83
0.1 mi·20 sec·White Pole Road
21
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·1 min·West 7th Street
22
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest 7th Street
23
Continue on US 6
8.9 mi·13 min·White Pole Road
24
Turn left onto IA 48
5.3 mi·7 min·550th Street
25
Continue on IA 48
1.0 mi·1 min·Adair Street
26
Continue on IA 48
4.8 mi·7 min·550th Street
27
Continue on IA 48
0.9 mi·1 min·M Avenue
28
Continue on IA 48
14 mi·20 min·110 Street
29
Turn left onto West Hammond Street
0.4 mi·1 min·West Hammond Street
30
Turn right onto North 7th Street
300 ft·15 sec·North 7th Street
31
Turn right onto East Reed Street
329 ft·14 sec·East Reed Street
32
Arrive at destination
East Reed Street
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 153.4 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 67.9 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 68 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.4 miles or 3h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Oak, 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 306.9 miles and 6h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 I 80 for about 67.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 153.4 mi from Dubuque, IA
· 3h 1m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.1
1
$32.22
$14.73
Efficient EV
76.7
0
$26.85
$12.28
EV Truck/SUV
122.8
1
$42.97
$19.64
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
10:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Red Oak, IA
Morning
in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
10:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°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
29 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
6h 14m 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 Red Oak, IA covers 306.9 miles and takes about 6h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US 151, Lincoln Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 153.4 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 $47.98 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 306.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Dubuque, IA and Red Oak, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown, Des Moines and Audubon.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
