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Trip from Eagle Grove, IA to Dubuque, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 46m

Distance

187.1 mi

301 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 33m ★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 55m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Eagle Grove, IA, IA

Eagle Grove, IA

Tom Fisk

city in and county seat of Dubuque, Iowa, United States

Dubuque, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Eagle Grove, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 187.1 miles and takes about 3h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 20, Stagecoach Road, State Highway 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 170.3 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.25 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

93.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 46m. Total distance: 187.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 46m highway drive covering 187.1 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and Stagecoach Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 170.3 miles on US 20.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 170.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Stagecoach Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 13.5 miles in near CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street.

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 3h 46m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 186.5 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
13.5 mi into trip | ~20m in | CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street

At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street

Navigation decision point

5
15.6 mi into trip | ~23m in

Take the ramp toward US 20 East

Navigation decision point

Toward US 20 East
6
186.5 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in | US 61; US 151

At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
186.6 mi into trip | ~3h 44m in

Take the exit toward White Street, Port of Dubuque

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 189A Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
5
187 mi into trip | ~3h 45m in | East 7th Street

Turn left onto East 7th Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 20 170.3 mi 3h 19m
Stagecoach Road 7.7 mi 11m
State Highway 17 6.7 mi 9m
South Commercial Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
220th Street 0.4 mi <1m
IA 946 0.1 mi <1m
White Street 0.1 mi <1m
South Locust Street 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 20 — 170.3 mi, about 3h 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Eagle Grove, IA and Dubuque, IA.

1

Start on West Broadway Street

30 ft · 8 sec · West Broadway Street
2

Turn left onto South Commercial Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Commercial Avenue
3

Continue on IA 17

6.7 mi · 9 min · State Highway 17
4

Continue on IA 17

5.9 mi · 8 min · Stagecoach Road
5

At end of road, turn left onto CR D20; IA 17; CR D20

0.4 mi · 37 sec · 220th Street
6

Turn right onto IA 17

1.7 mi · 2 min · Stagecoach Road
7

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec
Toward US 20 East
8

Merge onto US 20

89 mi · 1 hr 42 min · US 20
9

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20

81 mi · 1 hr 36 min · US 20
10

Turn left onto IA 946

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
11

Turn straight onto IA 946

0.1 mi · 20 sec · IA 946
Toward IA 946
12

At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151

418 ft · 13 sec · US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 189A Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
14

Continue on White Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · White Street
15

Turn left onto East 7th Street

284 ft · 19 sec · East 7th Street
16

Turn left onto Central Avenue

31 ft · 1 sec · Central Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Central Avenue

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 93.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.3 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 41 miles or 53m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 93.5 miles or 1h 53m 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 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dubuque, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Eagle Grove, 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 Eagle Grove, IA

This is one driving day of about 187.1 miles and 3h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Eagle Grove, 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 US 20 for about 170.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 93.5 mi from Eagle Grove, IA · 1h 53m into the drive

Downtown Elk Run Heights, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Elk Run Heights, IA

94 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

Iowa Falls, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Elk Run Heights, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 93.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 170.3 miles.

Arriving in Dubuque, IA

The final approach into Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, IA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$29.25 one way

$58.50 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 66 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $32.12 $64.23
premium $4.89 $36.01 $72.01
diesel $5.61 $41.31 $82.62

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 56.1 0 $19.65 $8.98
Efficient EV 46.8 0 $16.37 $7.48
EV Truck/SUV 74.8 0 $26.19 $11.97

Gas CO2

65 kg

EV CO2

22 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

Eagle Grove, IA

Late night in Eagle Grove on Saturday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dubuque, IA

Late night in Dubuque on Saturday

Local time

3:59 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 46m 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 Eagle Grove, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 187.1 miles and takes about 3h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 20, Stagecoach Road, State Highway 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 93.5 miles from Eagle Grove, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.25 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 46m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: at 13.5 miles (CR D20; IA 17; CR D20 / 220th Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 186.5 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.

The route from Eagle Grove, IA to Dubuque, 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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