The drive from Dubuque, IA to Washington, IA covers 151.8 miles and takes about 3h 11m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Dodge Street, 210th Street, State Highway 3 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 $23.73 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.9 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 151.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 11m drive with frequent turns across 151.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 11m 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 0.4 miles (IA 946 / Locust Street Conn): Navigation decision point; at 87.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
3
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 946 / Locust Street Conn
Turn right onto IA 946 / Locust Street Conn
Navigation decision point
6
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
97.2 mi into trip|~1h 58m in|US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
4
113 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|IA 3 / 230th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 230th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dodge Street
87 mi
1h 43m
210th Street
18 mi
24m
State Highway 3
15.1 mi
20m
Avenue of the Saints
15 mi
17m
I 380
5.6 mi
7m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
2.1 mi
2m
Central Avenue East
2.1 mi
4m
230th Street
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Dodge Street
— 87 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Washington, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward 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 right at fork onto I 380
5.6 mi·7 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
6
Continue on US 218
0.2 mi·18 sec·West Washington Expressway
7
Continue on US 218
0.7 mi·51 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
8
Continue on US 218
1.3 mi·1 min·West Washington Street
9
Continue on US 218
1.4 mi·1 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
10
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi·58 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
12
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
15 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
14
Turn left onto IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·230th Street
15
Continue on IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 3
16
Continue on IA 3
8.8 mi·11 min·210th Street
17
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 3
18
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi·10 min·210th Street
19
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi·2 min·South Street
20
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi·2 min·210th Street
21
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 3
22
Continue on IA 3
2.1 mi·4 min·Central Avenue East
23
Continue on IA 3
2.6 mi·3 min·State Highway 3
24
Arrive at destination
IA 3
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 75.9 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 31m 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, 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 151.8 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 Dodge Street for about 87 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.9 mi from Dubuque, IA
· 1h 31m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.73 one way
$47.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.06
$52.11
premium
$4.89
$29.21
$58.43
diesel
$5.61
$33.52
$67.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
Tesla Supercharger
Waterloo, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Hampton, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Waterloo, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Shell Rock, Iowa
Blink
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge: 2
Tesla: 1
Blink: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.94
$7.29
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.28
$6.07
EV Truck/SUV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Washington, IA
Morning
in Washington on Saturday
Local time
8:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
76 mi in
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
21 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
3h 11m 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 Washington, IA covers 151.8 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Dodge Street, 210th Street, State Highway 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.9 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 $23.73 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 11m 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 0.4 miles (IA 946 / Locust Street Conn): Navigation decision point; at 87.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Dubuque, IA to Washington, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
