Origin
Dubuque, IA
Late night in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
2:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Forest City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
204.4 mi
329 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 55m
★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Forest City, IA
Nino Souza
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Forest City, IA covers 204.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 61 South, Locust Street Conn, Dodge Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.96 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
102.2 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 7m. Total distance: 204.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m 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 4h 7m drive with frequent turns across 204.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 61 South is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
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 4h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to Forest City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 South | — | — |
| Locust Street Conn | — | — |
| Dodge Street | — | — |
| I-380 north | — | — |
| West Washington Expressway | — | — |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | — | — |
| West Washington Street | — | — |
| US 218 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 61 South
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Forest City, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp straight toward US 61 South, US 151 South
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Turn right onto Locust Street Conn
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Locust Street Conn
4
Turn right onto Dodge Street
87 mi
·
1 hr 43 min
·
Dodge Street
5
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
Continue on West Washington Expressway
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
West Washington Expressway
7
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
8
Continue on West Washington Street
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
West Washington Street
9
Continue on Leo P Rooff Expressway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
10
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
11
Keep slight right to continue on US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
12
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
87 mi
·
1 hr 39 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
14
Turn left onto 300th Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
300th Street
15
Turn right onto Grouse Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grouse Avenue
16
Continue on 310th Street
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
310th Street
17
Turn right onto Balsam Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Balsam Avenue
18
Turn left onto 330th Street
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
330th Street
19
Turn right
1.5 mi
·
2 min
20
Turn left onto East J Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
East J Street
21
Turn left onto South 4th Street
358 ft
·
16 sec
·
South 4th Street
22
Arrive at your 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 102.2 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
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 45 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.2 miles or 2h 3m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest City, 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 204.4 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.2 mi from Dubuque, IA · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.2 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forest City, IA
The final approach into Forest City, 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 Forest City, 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
$31.96 one way
$63.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.09 | $70.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.33 | $78.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.13 | $90.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.5 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 | 61.3 | 0 | $21.46 | $9.81 |
| Efficient EV | 51.1 | 0 | $17.88 | $8.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.8 | 1 | $28.62 | $13.08 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Forest City, IA
Late night in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
2:20 AM
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
4h 7m 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 Forest City, IA covers 204.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61 South, Locust Street Conn, Dodge Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.2 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 $31.96 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 is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to Forest City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dubuque, IA to Forest City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Forest City, IA
More trips to Forest City, IA
Explore more options from Dubuque, IA or browse trips ending in Forest City, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.