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Trip from Le Mars, 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

6h 13m

Distance

310 mi

499 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$48

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 1m ★
6 AM
6h 13m
8 AM
6h 39m
10 AM
6h 22m
12 PM
6h 20m
3 PM
6h 23m
5 PM
6h 37m
8 PM
6h 6m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Iowa, United States

Le Mars, IA

Wikimedia Commons

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

Dubuque, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 310 miles and takes about 6h 13m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 220th Street, US 20, Highway 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.9 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.46 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

155 miles from Le Mars, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 10m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 13m. Total distance: 310 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (37%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile.

Drive Character

The drive from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 310 miles and takes about 6h 13m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 165.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 34.7 miles in near US 20 / Highway 20.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 13m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 34.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 309.5 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 309.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

6
34.7 mi into trip | ~49m in | US 20 / Highway 20

Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
309.5 mi into trip | ~6h 11m 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
309.6 mi into trip | ~6h 11m 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
310 mi into trip | ~6h 12m in | East 7th Street

Turn left onto East 7th Street

Navigation decision point

5
310 mi into trip | ~6h 13m in | Central Avenue

Turn left onto Central Avenue

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
220th Street 165.9 mi 3h 11m
US 20 81.4 mi 1h 36m
Highway 20 19 mi 22m
United States Highway 20 8.3 mi 10m
Oyens Avenue 7 mi 9m
Lee Avenue 5.4 mi 7m
County Road K64 5 mi 6m
State Highway 3 4.7 mi 6m
Longest stretch: 220th Street — 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Le Mars, IA and Dubuque, IA.

1

Start on 1st Street Northeast

0.3 mi · 1 min · 1st Street Northeast
2

Turn left onto IA 3

0.1 mi · 16 sec · 5th Avenue Northeast
3

Continue on IA 3

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Street Northeast
4

Continue on IA 3

4.7 mi · 6 min · State Highway 3
5

Turn right onto County Road K64

5.0 mi · 6 min · County Road K64
6

Continue on Oyens Avenue

7.0 mi · 9 min · Oyens Avenue
7

Turn left onto CR C60

2.0 mi · 2 min · C 60
8

Turn right onto County Road C66

2.4 mi · 3 min · County Road C66
9

Continue on 310th Street

1.4 mi · 1 min · 310th Street
10

Turn straight onto County Highway C66

0.8 mi · 1 min · County Highway C66
11

Continue on Main Street

0.2 mi · 52 sec · Main Street
12

Turn left onto East 3rd Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East 3rd Street
13

Continue on C66

2.0 mi · 2 min · 320th Street
14

Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue

2.0 mi · 2 min · Shamrock Avenue
15

Continue on L21

5.4 mi · 7 min · Lee Avenue
16

Turn left onto US 20

19 mi · 22 min · Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
17

Continue on US 20

8.3 mi · 10 min · United States Highway 20
18

Continue on US 20

166 mi · 3 hr 11 min · 220th Street
19

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20

81 mi · 1 hr 36 min · US 20
20

Turn left onto IA 946

0.1 mi · 18 sec · South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
21

Turn straight onto IA 946

0.1 mi · 20 sec · IA 946
Toward IA 946
22

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

418 ft · 13 sec · US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec
Exit 189A Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
24

Continue on White Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · White Street
25

Turn left onto East 7th Street

284 ft · 19 sec · East 7th Street
26

Turn left onto Central Avenue

31 ft · 1 sec · Central Avenue
27

Arrive at destination

Central Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 155 miles from Le Mars, IA, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 68 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 155 miles or 3h 10m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 5m

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 Le Mars, 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 Le Mars, IA

This is one driving day of about 310 miles and 6h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Le Mars, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 155 mi from Le Mars, IA · 3h 10m into the drive

city and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Marshalltown, IA

155 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

Denison, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Marshalltown, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 155 miles from Le Mars, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 165.9 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Lally's Eastside Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Le Mars, Iowa

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17125464406

Visit website

Sunshine Family Restaurant West

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Dubuque, Iowa

2.9 mi

Lally's Eastside Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Le Mars, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+17125464406

Visit website

Sunshine Family Restaurant West

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 310.4

Dubuque, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15635573000

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 221.7

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 221.7

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 155.2

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15155160821

Visit website

EVgo Car Charging Station

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 155.2

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.46 one way

$96.93 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $53.21 $106.43
premium $4.89 $59.66 $119.31
diesel $5.61 $68.44 $136.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$48

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$73–$98

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 108.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 93 1 $32.55 $14.88
Efficient EV 77.5 0 $27.13 $12.40
EV Truck/SUV 124 1 $43.40 $19.84

Gas CO2

108 kg

EV CO2

36 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Le Mars, IA

Morning in Le Mars on Friday

Local time

8:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dubuque, IA

Morning in Dubuque on Friday

Local time

8:57 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

3 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

6h 13m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 310 miles and takes about 6h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 220th Street, US 20, Highway 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 155 miles from Le Mars, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 13m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 14 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

The main spots that need attention: at 34.7 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 309.5 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 309.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Le Mars, 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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