Origin
Monticello, IA
Morning in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
9:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, IA to Dubuque, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
45m
Distance
36 mi
58 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 45m
8 AM
0h 53m
10 AM
0h 48m
12 PM
0h 47m
3 PM
0h 48m
5 PM
0h 52m
8 PM
0h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, IA
Serena Koi
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Monticello, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 36 miles and takes about 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 151, US 61, Business Highway 151 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 32.6 miles on US 151. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 45m. Total distance: 36 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 45m highway drive covering 36 miles, with most of the trip on US 151 and US 61. The longest continuous stretch is about 32.6 miles on US 151.
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 151 is the longest continuous segment at about 32.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 and US 61. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 38 / East 1st Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 36 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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 38 / East 1st Street
Turn left onto IA 38 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 151 Business / North Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 151 Business / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
35.5 mi into trip
|
~43m 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
35.9 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
36 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 151 | 32.6 mi | 38m |
| US 61 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Business Highway 151 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Richland Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| White Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 32.6 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on North Maple Street
73 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Maple Street
2
Turn left onto IA 38
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
East 1st Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto US 151 Business
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
North Main Street
4
Continue on US 151 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Business Highway 151
5
Turn right onto Richland Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Richland Road
6
Turn left onto US 151
28 mi
·
31 min
·
US 151
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
US 151
8
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 61; US 151
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 18 mi from Monticello, IA · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18 miles from Monticello, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Dubuque, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Dubuque, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.63 one way
$11.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.18 | $12.36 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.93 | $13.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.95 | $15.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.78 | $1.73 |
| Efficient EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.04 | $2.30 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
Morning in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
9:24 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
45m 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 Monticello, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 36 miles and takes about 45m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 151, US 61, Business Highway 151. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18 miles from Monticello, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.63 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 36 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (US 151 Business / North Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Monticello, 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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