Origin
Forest City, IA
Late night in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
2:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest City, 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
4h 9m
Distance
205.5 mi
331 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 36m
10 AM
4h 19m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest City, IA
Nino Souza
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Forest City, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 205.5 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 18, US 20, 330th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.7 miles on US 18. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.13 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
102.8 miles from Forest City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 4m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 205.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 9m highway drive covering 205.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 18 and US 20. The longest continuous stretch is about 81.7 miles on US 18.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 18 is the longest continuous segment at about 81.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 18 and US 20. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East J Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 205.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East J Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (CR S14 / Balsam Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 116.8 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East J Street
Turn right onto East J Street
Navigation decision point
5
9.8 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
CR S14 / Balsam Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto CR S14 / Balsam Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
116.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...
6
205 mi into trip
|
~4h 7m 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
205.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 8m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Forest City, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Cedar Falls.
Charles City
25.7 mi in
|
~35m
|
via US 18; IA 27
Cedar Falls
116.8 mi in
|
~2h 22m
|
via I 380
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 18 | 81.7 mi | 1h 34m |
| US 20 | 81.4 mi | 1h 36m |
| 330th Street | 8 mi | 10m |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | 6.7 mi | 8m |
| I 380 | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 6.2 mi | 6m |
| 310th Street | 5 mi | 6m |
| Washington Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
US 18
— 81.7 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest City, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on South 4th Street
358 ft
·
18 sec
·
South 4th Street
2
Turn right onto East J Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East J Street
3
Turn right onto US 69
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
US 69
4
Turn left onto CR B14
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
330th Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto CR S14
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Balsam Avenue
6
Turn left onto CR B20
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
310th Street
7
Continue on CR S28
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Grouse Avenue
8
Turn left onto CR B20
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
300th Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
10
Merge onto I 35; IA 27
6.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
11
Take the exit onto US 18; IA 27
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
US 18; IA 27
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
12
Turn slight right onto US 18; IA 27
81 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
US 18; IA 27
Toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
13
Take the exit
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
14
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
15
Merge onto US 218
6.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
16
Continue on US 218
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Washington Street
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
·
US 20
19
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
IA 946
Toward IA 946
21
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft
·
13 sec
·
US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 189A
Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
23
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
24
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft
·
19 sec
·
East 7th Street
25
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
26
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 102.8 miles from Forest City, IA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.7 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 45 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.8 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
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 Forest City, 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 Forest City, IA
This is one driving day of about 205.5 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Forest City, 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 18 for about 81.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.8 mi from Forest City, IA · 2h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 102.8 miles from Forest City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 18 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.7 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.13 one way
$64.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $35.27 | $70.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $39.55 | $79.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $45.37 | $90.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.58 | $9.86 |
| Efficient EV | 51.4 | 0 | $17.98 | $8.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.2 | 1 | $28.77 | $13.15 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Dubuque, IA
Late night in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
2:20 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
4h 9m 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 Forest City, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 205.5 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 18, US 20, 330th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.8 miles from Forest City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.13 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 205.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East J Street): Navigation decision point; at 9.8 miles (CR S14 / Balsam Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 116.8 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Forest City, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Charles City and Cedar Falls.
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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