Origin
Dubuque, IA
Late night in Dubuque on Friday
Local time
1:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Le Mars, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
6h 12m
Distance
310.6 mi
500 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 0m
★
6 AM
6h 12m
8 AM
6h 38m
10 AM
6h 21m
12 PM
6h 19m
3 PM
6h 23m
5 PM
6h 37m
8 PM
6h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Le Mars, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Le Mars, IA covers 310.6 miles and takes about 6h 12m 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 $48.56 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
155.3 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 12m. Total distance: 310.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 12m drive with frequent turns across 310.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to Le Mars, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 South | — | — |
| Locust Street Conn | — | — |
| Dodge Street | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| 160th Street | — | — |
| Highway 20 | — | — |
| Lee Avenue | — | — |
| Shamrock Avenue | — | — |
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 Le Mars, 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 left to continue on Avenue of the Saints
160 mi
·
3 hr 4 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Continue on 160th Street
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
160th Street
7
Continue on United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
United States Highway 20
8
Continue on Highway 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
9
Turn right onto Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
10
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
11
Turn left onto 320th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
12
Turn right onto State Highway 140
11 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 140
13
Turn left onto C38
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
C38
14
Continue on 210th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
15
Continue on C38
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
C38
16
Turn right onto County Road K64
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
County Road K64
17
Turn left onto State Highway 3
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
18
Continue on Lincoln Street Northeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street Northeast
19
Continue on 5th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
5th Avenue Northeast
20
Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
1st Street Northeast
21
Arrive at your destination
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 155.3 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 3h 6m 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 68 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.3 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Le Mars, 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 310.6 miles and 6h 12m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 155.3 mi from Dubuque, IA · 3h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
155 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 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 155.3 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Le Mars, IA
The final approach into Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, 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
$48.56 one way
$97.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $53.32 | $106.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $59.77 | $119.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.58 | $137.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.2 | 1 | $32.61 | $14.91 |
| Efficient EV | 77.7 | 0 | $27.18 | $12.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.2 | 1 | $43.48 | $19.88 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Le Mars, IA
Late night in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
1:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°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
3 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 12m 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 Le Mars, IA covers 310.6 miles and takes about 6h 12m 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 155.3 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 $48.56 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to Le Mars, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dubuque, IA to Le Mars, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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