The drive from Norwalk, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 200.3 miles and takes about 4h 1m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 200th Avenue for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.31 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
100.2 miles from Norwalk, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 1m. Total distance: 200.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 1m drive with frequent turns across 200.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 200.3 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 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 199.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
19 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
5
119.8 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
6
199.9 mi into trip|~4h 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
200.3 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
200.3 mi into trip|~4h 1m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norwalk, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Altoona and Marion.
Altoona
19 mi in|~24m
Marion
119.8 mi in|~2h 23m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
200th Avenue
32.4 mi
37m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
Marion Airport Road
24.1 mi
27m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
14.5 mi
16m
IA 100
9.4 mi
11m
US 151
6.2 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
82 ft·8 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR G14
1.1 mi·1 min·North Avenue
3
Continue on County Road G14
1.4 mi·2 min·County Road G14
4
At end of road, turn left onto CR R63
1.2 mi·2 min·County Road R63
5
Continue on CR R63
0.4 mi·48 sec·Southwest 9th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·42 sec
7
Merge onto IA 5
14 mi·16 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
9
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·41 sec·this road
10
Turn right onto US 6
1.2 mi·1 min·Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
14
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
15
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
17
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
18
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
19
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
20
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi·27 min·Marion Airport Road
21
Continue on US 151
32 mi·37 min·200th Avenue
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
25
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
26
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
27
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 100.2 miles from Norwalk, IA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 44 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.2 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
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 Norwalk, 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 Norwalk, IA
This is one driving day of about 200.3 miles and 4h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Norwalk, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.2 mi from Norwalk, IA
· 2h 1m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.31 one way
$62.63 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$34.38
$68.76
premium
$4.89
$38.55
$77.09
diesel
$5.61
$44.22
$88.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.1
0
$21.03
$9.61
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.53
$8.01
EV Truck/SUV
80.1
1
$28.04
$12.82
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Norwalk, IA
Morning
in Norwalk on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
10:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
100 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
4h 1m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Norwalk, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 200.3 miles and takes about 4h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 200th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.2 miles from Norwalk, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.31 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 200.3 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 19 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 199.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Norwalk, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Altoona and Marion.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
