Mount Pleasant to Dubuque is 133.9 miles and takes about 2 hours 56 minutes via US 151, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive cuts across Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest, remaining within the state. Expect a mixed driving experience that's well-suited for a single day trip. It’s a straightforward journey, perfect if you're looking for a comfortable drive without too many complex turns or extended periods of intense focus. The relatively short duration and manageable fuel cost make it an accessible option for many travelers.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66.9 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 56m. Total distance: 133.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This route offers a mixed drive, with 58% of it on highways. You'll experience stretches of both faster-paced travel and more local road driving. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 49.7 miles on US 151, providing a good opportunity to settle in. As you progress, the character of the road will naturally shift, transitioning between more open highway sections and perhaps more community-focused roads as you approach your destination. This variation keeps the drive engaging without being overly demanding.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 34 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 49.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Warren Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 133.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 (West Warren Street): Navigation decision point; at 48.8 miles (Lafayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Warren Street
Turn right onto West Warren Street
Navigation decision point
5
48.8 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|Lafayette Street
Turn right onto Lafayette Street
Navigation decision point
5
70.5 mi into trip|~1h 37m in|IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
133.4 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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
133.8 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
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 Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
Airport
45.5 mi in|~55m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
49.7 mi
58m
Avenue of the Saints
42.1 mi
48m
State Highway 1
15.5 mi
21m
Highway 1 Northeast
10.7 mi
14m
North Dodge Street
2.1 mi
4m
Iowa Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
1st Avenue South
1.5 mi
2m
South Market Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 49.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on South White Street
58 ft·4 sec·South White Street
2
Turn right onto West Warren Street
0.1 mi·38 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 US 218; IA 27
42 mi·48 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward 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·16 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 IA 1
0.4 mi·1 min·North Governor Street
17
Turn right onto IA 1
2.1 mi·4 min·North Dodge Street
18
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi·10 min·Highway 1 Northeast
19
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi·2 min·South Market Street
20
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1 Northeast
21
Continue on IA 1
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 1
22
Enter roundabout onto IA 1
132 ft·5 sec·State Highway 1
23
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi·18 sec·State Highway 1
24
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Avenue South
25
Continue on IA 1
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 1
26
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
27
Merge onto US 151
45 mi·51 min·US 151
28
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
31
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
32
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
33
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the drive duration of under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Mount Pleasant in the morning should get you to Dubuque with plenty of daylight to spare. There's one recommended stop on this route, so plan to take advantage of that break. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $21, and it's always wise to top off before embarking on the longest stretch of 49.7 miles on US 151. This route is efficient, so you likely won't need to split the drive, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.9 miles from Mount Pleasant, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.9 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
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 133.9 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 US 151 for about 49.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.9 mi from Mount Pleasant, IA
· 1h 32m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.2
0
$14.06
$6.43
Efficient EV
33.5
0
$11.72
$5.36
EV Truck/SUV
53.6
0
$18.75
$8.57
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Mount Pleasant, IA
Late night
in Mount Pleasant on Saturday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
5:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Solon, IA
67 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 56m 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 133.9 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 151, Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 1. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.9 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 $20.93 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 133.9 miles you will encounter 17 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 (West Warren Street): Navigation decision point; at 48.8 miles (Lafayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Mount Pleasant, IA to Dubuque, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport along the way.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
