Origin
Independence, IA
Late night in Independence on Friday
Local time
12:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
1h 9m
Distance
66.7 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Independence, IA
Roger Ce
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 66.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, South Locust Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 66.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 9m drive with frequent turns across 66.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Street East 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 Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Street East | — | — |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | — | — |
| South Locust Street | — | — |
| IA 946 | — | — |
| White Street | — | — |
| East 7th Street | — | — |
| Central Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
1st Street East
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue Southeast
43 ft
·
9 sec
·
5th Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto 1st Street East
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
3
Turn left onto 3rd Avenue Southeast
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
5
Merge slight left
65 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
6
Turn left onto South Locust Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Locust Street
7
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
IA 946
8
At the end of the road, turn left
420 ft
·
13 sec
9
Take the exit slight right toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
White Street, Port of Dubuque
10
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
11
Turn left onto East 7th Street
285 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto Central Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
13
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.4 mi from Independence, IA · 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.4 miles from Independence, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.43 one way
$20.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.45 | $22.90 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.84 | $25.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.73 | $29.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20 | 0 | $7.00 | $3.20 |
| Efficient EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 Friday
Local time
12:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
1h 9m 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 Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 66.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Street East, 3rd Avenue Southeast, South Locust Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.4 miles from Independence, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.43 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 Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA is easy. At 1h 9m 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 Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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