Origin
Le Mars, IA
Late night in Le Mars on Friday
Local time
2:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA
Compiled by the Trip.ovh editorial team · Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026 · Methodology
Drive Time
4h 57m
Distance
310.4 mi
499 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 44m
★
6 AM
4h 58m
8 AM
5h 25m
10 AM
5h 7m
12 PM
5h 4m
3 PM
5h 8m
5 PM
5h 23m
8 PM
4h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Le Mars, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 310.4 miles and takes about 4h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 5th Avenue Northeast, Lincoln Street Northeast, Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.53 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
155.2 miles from Le Mars, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 57m. Total distance: 310.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 57m drive with frequent turns across 310.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
5th Avenue Northeast 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
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 4h 57m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 5th Avenue Northeast | — | — |
| Lincoln Street Northeast | — | — |
| Highway 3 | — | — |
| County Road K64 | — | — |
| Oyens Avenue | — | — |
| C 60 | — | — |
| County Road C66 | — | — |
| 310th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
5th Avenue Northeast
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
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 5th Avenue Northeast
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
5th Avenue Northeast
3
Continue on Lincoln Street Northeast
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street Northeast
4
Continue on State Highway 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 C 60
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 320th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
14
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
15
Continue on Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
16
Turn left onto Highway 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
17
Continue on United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
18
Continue on 220th Street
166 mi
·
3 hr 11 min
·
220th Street
19
Keep slight left
81 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
20
Turn left onto South Locust Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
South Locust Street
21
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
IA 946
22
At the end of the road, turn left
420 ft
·
13 sec
23
Take the exit slight right toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
White Street, Port of Dubuque
24
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
25
Turn left onto East 7th Street
285 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 7th Street
26
Turn left onto Central Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
27
Arrive at your destination
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 155.2 miles from Le Mars, IA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
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 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.2 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
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 310.4 miles and 4h 57m.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 155.2 mi from Le Mars, IA · 2h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 68 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 155.2 miles from Le Mars, 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.
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
$48.53 one way
$97.05 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $53.28 | $106.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $59.73 | $119.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $68.53 | $137.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.6 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 | 1 | $32.59 | $14.90 |
| Efficient EV | 77.6 | 0 | $27.16 | $12.42 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.2 | 1 | $43.46 | $19.87 |
Gas CO2
109 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.
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night in Dubuque on Friday
Local time
2:36 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
4h 57m 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 Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 310.4 miles and takes about 4h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 5th Avenue Northeast, Lincoln Street Northeast, Highway 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 155.2 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 $48.53 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 is a straightforward 4h 57m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Le Mars, IA to Dubuque, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the methodology page.
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