Origin
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon in Dubuque on Friday
Local time
2:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to West Liberty, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 55m
Distance
86.2 mi
139 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 47m
★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
West Liberty, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to West Liberty, IA covers 86.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m 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, County Road X40, Garfield Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.48 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.
Midpoint
43.1 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 86.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m 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 1h 55m drive with frequent turns across 86.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Dubuque, IA to West Liberty, IA is easy. At 1h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to West Liberty, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 South | — | — |
| County Road X40 | — | — |
| Garfield Avenue | — | — |
| North Elm Street | — | — |
| East 1st Street | — | — |
| South Madison Street | — | — |
| Fox Avenue | — | — |
| 160th Street | — | — |
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 West Liberty, 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
·
28 sec
·
US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Continue straight
5.6 mi
·
7 min
4
Take the exit slight right
42 mi
·
48 min
5
Turn left onto County Road X40
9.6 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road X40
6
Continue on Garfield Avenue
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Garfield Avenue
7
Continue on North Elm Street
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Elm Street
8
Turn right onto East 1st Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
East 1st Street
9
Turn left onto South Madison Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Madison Street
10
Continue on Fox Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Fox Avenue
11
Continue on 160th Street
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
160th Street
12
Turn straight onto Garfield Avenue
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Garfield Avenue
13
Continue on Green Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Green Road
14
Continue on Harding Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Harding Avenue
15
Turn right onto Cedar Valley Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Cedar Valley Road
16
Turn left onto Garfield Avenue
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Garfield Avenue
17
Turn left onto North Columbus Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Columbus Street
18
Turn right onto East 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 3rd Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.1 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 57m 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.1 miles or 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 1h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Liberty, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dubuque, IA
This is one driving day of about 86.2 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Dubuque, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.1 mi from Dubuque, IA · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.1 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Liberty, IA
The final approach into West Liberty, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.48 one way
$26.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.80 | $29.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.59 | $33.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.03 | $38.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.9 | 0 | $9.05 | $4.14 |
| Efficient EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.54 | $3.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.5 | 0 | $12.07 | $5.52 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
West Liberty, IA
Afternoon in West Liberty on Friday
Local time
2:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
4 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
1h 55m 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 West Liberty, IA covers 86.2 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61 South, County Road X40, Garfield Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.1 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 $13.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Dubuque, IA to West Liberty, IA is easy. At 1h 55m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Dubuque, IA to West Liberty, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dubuque, IA to West Liberty, 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.
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