Origin
Mount Pleasant, IA
Late night in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
3:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mount Pleasant, 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
2h 21m
Distance
147.4 mi
237 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 12m
★
6 AM
2h 21m
8 AM
2h 41m
10 AM
2h 28m
12 PM
2h 26m
3 PM
2h 29m
5 PM
2h 40m
8 PM
2h 16m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mount Pleasant, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 147.4 miles and takes about 2h 21m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Warren Street, South Jefferson Street, North Broadway Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.04 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
73.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 147.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m 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 2h 21m drive with frequent turns across 147.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Warren Street 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA is easy. At 2h 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Warren Street | — | — |
| South Jefferson Street | — | — |
| North Broadway Street | — | — |
| Iowa Avenue | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| Airport | — | — |
| Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast | — | — |
| Highway 218 South | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Warren Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on South White Street
59 ft
·
5 sec
·
South White Street
2
Turn right onto West Warren Street
0.1 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Warren Street
3
Turn left onto South Jefferson Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Jefferson Street
4
Continue on North Broadway Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Broadway Street
5
Continue on Iowa Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Iowa Avenue
6
Turn left onto Avenue of the Saints
42 mi
·
48 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit slight right toward Airport
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Airport
8
Continue on Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Crest Hill Road Southeast
9
Continue on Old Highway 218 South
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Old Highway 218 South
10
Continue on South Riverside Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
South Riverside Drive
11
Turn right onto West Benton Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Benton Street
12
Turn left onto South Capitol Street
417 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Capitol Street
13
Turn right onto Lafayette Street
423 ft
·
17 sec
·
Lafayette Street
14
Turn left onto South Clinton Street
1.1 mi
·
3 min
·
South Clinton Street
15
Continue on Church Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Church Street
16
Turn left onto North Governor Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Governor Street
17
Turn right onto North Dodge Street
2.1 mi
·
4 min
·
North Dodge Street
18
Continue on Highway 1 Northeast
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
19
Continue on South Market Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Market Street
20
Continue on Highway 1 Northeast
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Highway 1 Northeast
21
Continue on State Highway 1
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 1
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 1
131 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 1
23
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 1
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
State Highway 1
24
Continue on 1st Avenue South
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Avenue South
25
Continue on State Highway 1
10 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 1
26
Take the ramp right
0.5 mi
·
1 min
27
Merge slight left
45 mi
·
51 min
28
Keep slight left
5.1 mi
·
7 min
29
Keep slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
30
Take the exit slight right toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
White Street, Port of Dubuque
31
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
32
Turn left onto East 7th Street
285 ft
·
20 sec
·
East 7th Street
33
Turn left onto Central Avenue
33 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
34
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 73.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA, or about 1h 10m 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 32 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.7 miles or 1h 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 1h 55m
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 Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, IA
This is one driving day of about 147.4 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.7 mi from Mount Pleasant, IA · 1h 10m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 73.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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
$23.04 one way
$46.09 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.30 | $50.60 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.37 | $56.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.54 | $65.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.48 | $7.08 |
| Efficient EV | 36.9 | 0 | $12.90 | $5.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59 | 0 | $20.64 | $9.43 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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
Late night in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
3:54 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Solon, IA
74 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
27 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
2h 21m 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 Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 147.4 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Warren Street, South Jefferson Street, North Broadway Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $23.04 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.
The drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA is easy. At 2h 21m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mount Pleasant, 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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