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Trip from Muscatine, IA to Sioux City, IA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

6h 31m

Distance

351.9 mi

566 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 19m ★
6 AM
6h 31m
8 AM
6h 56m
10 AM
6h 40m
12 PM
6h 37m
3 PM
6h 41m
5 PM
6h 54m
8 PM
6h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of Muscatine County, Iowa, United States

Muscatine, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city ​​in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in Iowa, United States

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Muscatine, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 351.9 miles and takes about 6h 31m 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, I 880 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 242.4 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $55.02 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

175.9 miles from Muscatine, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 6h 31m highway drive covering 351.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 242.4 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 23 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 242.4 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 162.4 miles in near I 80.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 351.9 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 162.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
162.4 mi into trip | ~3h 4m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 West: Omaha
9
257.9 mi into trip | ~4h 47m 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
274.5 mi into trip | ~5h 4m 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
350.6 mi into trip | ~6h 27m in | South Floyd Boulevard

Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
351.3 mi into trip | ~6h 29m in | 6th Street

Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 242.4 mi 4h 22m
I 29 75.3 mi 1h 21m
I 880 16.7 mi 17m
State Highway 38 7.6 mi 10m
US 6 4.9 mi 7m
Park Avenue 2 mi 4m
East 2nd Street 0.7 mi 1m
South Floyd Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 242.4 mi, about 4h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Muscatine, IA and Sioux City, IA.

1

Start on Walnut Street

157 ft · 10 sec · Walnut Street
2

Turn left onto East 3rd Street

360 ft · 17 sec · East 3rd Street
3

Turn right onto Mulberry Avenue

330 ft · 9 sec · Mulberry Avenue
4

Enter roundabout onto US 61 Business

193 ft · 3 sec · East 2nd Street
5

Continue on US 61 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · East 2nd Street
6

Continue on US 61 Business; IA 38; IA 92

2.0 mi · 4 min · Park Avenue
7

Continue on IA 38

7.6 mi · 10 min · State Highway 38
8

Continue on US 6

4.9 mi · 7 min · US 6
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
10

Merge onto I 80

147 mi · 2 hr 39 min · I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

96 mi · 1 hr 42 min · I 80
Toward I 80 West: Omaha Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

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.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 0B Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
14

Merge onto I 29

75 mi · 1 hr 21 min · I 29
15

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
16

Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17

Turn left onto 5th Street

396 ft · 14 sec · 5th Street
18

Turn right onto Iowa Street

346 ft · 7 sec · Iowa Street
19

Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street

426 ft · 17 sec · 6th Street
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto Court Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Court Street
21

Turn left onto 9th Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · 9th Street
22

Turn right

115 ft · 8 sec
23

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 175.9 miles from Muscatine, IA, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 242.4 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 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 175.9 miles or 3h 18m 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 23m

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 Muscatine, 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 Muscatine, IA

This is one driving day of about 351.9 miles and 6h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Muscatine, 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 242.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 175.9 mi from Muscatine, IA · 3h 18m into the drive

human settlement in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukee, IA

176 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

Cedar Rapids, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukee, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 175.9 miles from Muscatine, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 242.4 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$55.02 one way

$110.03 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 123 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $60.40 $120.81
premium $4.89 $67.72 $135.44
diesel $5.61 $77.70 $155.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 123.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 105.6 1 $36.95 $16.89
Efficient EV 88 1 $30.79 $14.08
EV Truck/SUV 140.8 1 $49.27 $22.52

Gas CO2

123 kg

EV CO2

41 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 hours ago

Origin

Muscatine, IA

Late night in Muscatine on Wednesday

Local time

5:37 AM

CDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sioux City, IA

Late night in Sioux City on Wednesday

Local time

5:37 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

32 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 31m 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 Muscatine, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 351.9 miles and takes about 6h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 29, I 880. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 175.9 miles from Muscatine, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $55.02 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 16 significant decision points across 351.9 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 162.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 257.9 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 274.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
The route from Muscatine, IA to Sioux City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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