Origin
Dubuque, IA
Evening in Dubuque on Wednesday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Albia, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
199.4 mi
321 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Albia, IA covers 199.4 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 151, I 80, US 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.9 miles on US 151. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.17 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
99.7 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 9m highway drive covering 199.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 151 and I 80. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.9 miles on US 151.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 151 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 and I 80. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 199.4 miles you will encounter 17 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 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 17 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
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:...
5
93.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
5
140.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 41m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Montezuma, Tama
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63: Montezuma, Tama
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 Albia, IA, road signs point toward Airport and Tama.
Airport
77.2 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Tama
140.6 mi in
|
~2h 41m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 151 | 64.9 mi | 1h 16m |
| I 80 | 46.4 mi | 49m |
| US 63 | 28.5 mi | 40m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 15.8 mi | 17m |
| South Main Street | 14.5 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 137 | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| Lincoln Freeway | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| US 61 | 5.6 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Albia, 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
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
16 mi
·
17 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 80
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
12
Merge onto I 80
46 mi
·
49 min
·
I 80
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 63: Montezuma, Tama
14
Turn left onto US 63
21 mi
·
31 min
·
US 63
15
Turn left onto US 63
14 mi
·
22 min
·
South Main Street
16
Take the ramp onto US 63
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
US 63
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
18
Turn right onto IA 137
14 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 137
19
Continue on IA 5
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
North Main Street
20
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft
·
9 sec
·
Benton Avenue East
21
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 2nd Street
22
Turn left
31 ft
·
2 sec
23
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 99.7 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 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 44 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.7 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albia, 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 199.4 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 151 for about 64.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 99.7 mi from Dubuque, IA · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
100 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.7 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 151 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.9 miles.
Arriving in Albia, IA
The final approach into Albia, 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 Albia, 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
$31.17 one way
$62.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.23 | $68.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.37 | $76.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.03 | $88.05 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.8 | 0 | $20.94 | $9.57 |
| Efficient EV | 49.9 | 0 | $17.45 | $7.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.8 | 0 | $27.92 | $12.76 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
Albia, IA
Evening in Albia on Wednesday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°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
18 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
4h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Albia, IA covers 199.4 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 151, I 80, US 63. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 99.7 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 $31.17 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 199.4 miles you will encounter 17 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 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.
Between Dubuque, IA and Albia, IA, road signs point toward Airport and Tama.
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