Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Afternoon in Iowa Falls on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Iowa Falls, IA to Dubuque, IA
Drive Time
2h 54m
Distance
144.3 mi
232 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 43m
★
6 AM
2h 54m
8 AM
3h 17m
10 AM
3h 2m
12 PM
3h 0m
3 PM
3h 3m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Iowa Falls, IA
Ali Soheil
Dubuque, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
Spanning 144.3 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Iowa Falls to Dubuque is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 54 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $22 on fuel for the one-way trip. The route stays entirely within the Midwest, keeping you firmly in the heart of the region's terrain. Since you only need one planned stop to complete the journey comfortably, this trip is ideal for those who prefer efficient travel over multi-day road adventures.
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
72.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 95% of your travel time will be spent on highways. Your journey is dominated by a 137.3-mile stretch on US 20, which serves as the backbone of the trip and keeps the pace steady. After navigating short local segments on Oak Street and East Rocksylvania Avenue to get out of Iowa Falls, you will settle into a long, consistent highway drive. The road’s personality is defined by this reliance on US 20, offering a predictable path that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. It is a classic Midwest highway-focused drive that allows you to cover significant distance with minimal interruptions.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 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 137.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Oak Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 54m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (US 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 143.7 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
62.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
US 20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
143.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 52m 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
143.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m 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
144.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 54m in
|
East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 137.3 mi | 2h 41m |
| Oak Street | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| East Rocksylvania Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| IA 946 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| White Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| South Locust Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| US 61 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Commercial Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 137.3 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft
·
11 sec
·
Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Oak Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
56 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
US 20
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
·
US 20
Use the none lane.
7
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
IA 946
Toward IA 946
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft
·
13 sec
·
US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 189A
Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
11
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
12
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft
·
19 sec
·
East 7th Street
13
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 54 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving in the morning helps you arrive in Dubuque with time to spare. Plan for at least one stop during your 144.3-mile trek to break up the long 137.3-mile stint on US 20. Keeping your fuel budget around $22 in mind, you will find that the route is simple to navigate if you stay attentive to the transition from local streets like East Rocksylvania Avenue onto the main highway. Since the drive is quite manageable in a single day, consider using that extra time to explore your destination upon arrival rather than worrying about mid-trip fatigue.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.3 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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.1 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
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 Iowa Falls, 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 Iowa Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 144.3 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 137.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 72.1 mi from Iowa Falls, IA · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 72.1 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 137.3 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
$21.92 one way
$43.84 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
51 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $24.16 | $48.32 |
| premium | $4.80 | $27.24 | $54.48 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.06 | $64.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.15 | $6.93 |
| Efficient EV | 36.1 | 0 | $12.63 | $5.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.7 | 0 | $20.20 | $9.24 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
2:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Waterloo, IA
72 mi in
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
4 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
2h 54m 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 Iowa Falls, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 144.3 miles and takes about 2h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Oak Street, East Rocksylvania Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 72.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.92 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.
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 2h 54m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 62.1 miles (US 20): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 143.7 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Iowa Falls, IA to Dubuque, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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