Origin
Dubuque, IA
Evening in Dubuque on Wednesday
Local time
6:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dubuque, IA to Winterset, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
4h 31m
Distance
225.4 mi
363 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 18m
★
6 AM
4h 32m
8 AM
4h 58m
10 AM
4h 41m
12 PM
4h 38m
3 PM
4h 42m
5 PM
4h 57m
8 PM
4h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Winterset, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Winterset, IA covers 225.4 miles and takes about 4h 31m 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, US 30 West, 16th Avenue Southwest for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.24 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
112.7 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 31m drive with frequent turns across 225.4 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 31m 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 Winterset, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 South | — | — |
| US 30 West | — | — |
| 16th Avenue Southwest | — | — |
| 73rd Street | — | — |
| Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| IA 330 | — | — |
| Marshalltown Boulevard | — | — |
| Northeast Hubbell 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 Winterset, 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
57 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
5
Turn left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
6
Turn right
15 mi
·
19 min
7
Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
8
Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Avenue Southwest
9
Continue on 73rd Street
24 mi
·
28 min
·
73rd Street
10
Continue on Lincoln Highway
37 mi
·
43 min
·
Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
12
Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Marshalltown Boulevard
13
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue
0.7 mi
·
58 sec
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
15
Continue straight
5.6 mi
·
6 min
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
13 mi
·
14 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
17
Take the exit slight right toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset
18
Turn left onto North Avenue
482 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Avenue
19
Continue on Guthrie Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Guthrie Street
20
Continue on North Avenue
14 mi
·
20 min
·
North Avenue
21
Turn right onto West Grade Street
125 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Grade 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 112.7 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 2h 15m 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 50 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.7 miles or 2h 15m 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 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winterset, 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 225.4 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 112.7 mi from Dubuque, IA · 2h 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 112.7 miles from Dubuque, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Winterset, IA
The final approach into Winterset, 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 Winterset, 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
$35.24 one way
$70.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.69 | $77.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.38 | $86.75 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.77 | $99.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.67 | $10.82 |
| Efficient EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.72 | $9.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.2 | 1 | $31.56 | $14.43 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Winterset, IA
Evening in Winterset on Wednesday
Local time
6:33 PM
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
1 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 31m 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 Winterset, IA covers 225.4 miles and takes about 4h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 61 South, US 30 West, 16th Avenue Southwest. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 112.7 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 $35.24 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 31m 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 Winterset, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Dubuque, IA to Winterset, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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