Origin
Independence, IA
Late night in Independence on Friday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
67.8 mi
109 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
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
This 67.8-mile drive from Independence to Dubuque, Iowa, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 23 minutes, making it ideal for a single-day adventure. With 96% of the journey on highways, you'll spend most of your time on US 20. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, which is quite budget-friendly. This route sticks within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout. It’s a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Iowa towns without needing an overnight stop.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 67.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 67.8-mile trip. You'll be on US 20 for the longest stretch, an uninterrupted 65.1 miles, which suggests a consistent pace for much of the drive. With 96% of the route on highways, this isn't a winding country road; it's designed for covering distance efficiently. The transition onto 3rd Avenue Southeast and IA 946 likely offers a brief change of pace before reaching your destination in Dubuque.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 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 65.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and 3rd Avenue Southeast. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East.
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 1h 23m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 67.3 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East
Navigation decision point
6
67.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
67.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 65.1 mi | 1h 18m |
| 3rd Avenue Southeast | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| IA 946 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| 1st Street East | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| White Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Locust Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| US 61 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 65.1 mi, about 1h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Independence, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on 5th Avenue Southeast
42 ft
·
9 sec
·
5th Avenue Southeast
2
Turn left onto IA 150; CR D22
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
1st Street East
3
Turn left onto IA 150
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
3rd Avenue Southeast
4
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
5
Merge onto US 20
65 mi
·
1 hr 18 min
·
US 20
6
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
IA 946
Toward IA 946
8
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft
·
13 sec
·
US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 189A
Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
10
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
11
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft
·
19 sec
·
East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
13
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.9 mi from Independence, IA · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 33.9 miles from Independence, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.1 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.60 one way
$21.20 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.64 | $23.28 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.05 | $26.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.97 | $29.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.12 | $3.25 |
| Efficient EV | 17 | 0 | $5.93 | $2.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.49 | $4.34 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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 Friday
Local time
5:03 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 23m 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 67.8 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, 3rd Avenue Southeast, IA 946. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.9 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 $10.60 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 23m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 150; CR D22 / 1st Street East): Navigation decision point; at 67.3 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 67.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Independence, IA to Dubuque, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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