Origin
Mediapolis, IA
Late night in Mediapolis on Wednesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mediapolis, IA to Sioux City, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
6h 56m
Distance
358.1 mi
576 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 45m
★
6 AM
6h 56m
8 AM
7h 19m
10 AM
7h 4m
12 PM
7h 2m
3 PM
7h 5m
5 PM
7h 18m
8 PM
6h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mediapolis, IA
tian Jin
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mediapolis, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 358.1 miles and takes about 6h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, I 29, US 34 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.8 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.98 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
179.1 miles from Mediapolis, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 40m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 6h 56m highway drive covering 358.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 94.8 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 94.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 168.3 miles in near Ramp 72 J.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 358.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 168.3 miles (Ramp 72 J): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 264.2 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
168.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m in
|
Ramp 72 J
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
9
264.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 12m in
|
I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
280.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
6
356.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 52m in
|
South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
357.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 54m in
|
6th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Mediapolis, IA to Sioux City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
Knoxville
98.7 mi in
|
~2h 7m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 94.8 mi | 1h 41m |
| I 29 | 75.3 mi | 1h 21m |
| US 34 | 59.7 mi | 1h 8m |
| A Avenue West | 32.4 mi | 36m |
| State Highway 5 | 19.2 mi | 22m |
| US 63 | 16.7 mi | 19m |
| I 880 | 16.7 mi | 17m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 12.3 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mediapolis, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on North Orchard Street
73 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Orchard Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn straight onto Mediapolis Road
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Mediapolis Road
4
Continue on 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
5
Turn left onto Racine Avenue
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Racine Avenue
6
Turn right onto 220th Street
7.4 mi
·
13 min
·
220th Street
7
Continue on Winfield Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Winfield Avenue
8
Turn right onto US 218 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Old US Highway 218
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
10
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
60 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
US 34; IA 163
11
Continue on US 63; IA 163
17 mi
·
19 min
·
US 63; IA 163
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
13
Turn left onto IA 92
32 mi
·
36 min
·
A Avenue West
14
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
15
Continue on IA 5
19 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 5
16
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
18
Merge onto I 35
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ramp 72 J
Exit 72B
Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 235
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
John MacVicar Freeway
21
Merge onto I 80
95 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
·
I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 880
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
24
Merge onto I 29
75 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 29
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
26
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
27
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft
·
14 sec
·
5th Street
28
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft
·
7 sec
·
Iowa Street
29
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
Use the left lane.
30
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Court Street
31
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
9th Street
32
Turn right
115 ft
·
8 sec
33
Arrive at destination
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 179.1 miles from Mediapolis, IA, or about 3h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179.1 miles or 3h 40m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mediapolis, 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 Mediapolis, IA
This is one driving day of about 358.1 miles and 6h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mediapolis, 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 I 80 for about 94.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 179.1 mi from Mediapolis, IA · 3h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
179 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 179.1 miles from Mediapolis, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.8 miles.
Arriving in Sioux City, IA
The final approach into Sioux City, 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 Sioux City, 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
$55.98 one way
$111.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $61.47 | $122.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $68.91 | $137.83 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $79.06 | $158.13 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107.4 | 1 | $37.60 | $17.19 |
| Efficient EV | 89.5 | 1 | $31.33 | $14.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 143.2 | 1 | $50.13 | $22.92 |
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% 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
Sioux City, IA
Late night in Sioux City on Wednesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°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
10 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 56m 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 Mediapolis, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 358.1 miles and takes about 6h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 29, US 34. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 179.1 miles from Mediapolis, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.98 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 358.1 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 168.3 miles (Ramp 72 J): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 264.2 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
On the drive from Mediapolis, IA to Sioux City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Knoxville along the way.
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