Origin
Norwalk, IA
Afternoon in Norwalk on Saturday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Norwalk, IA to Sioux City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 3m
Distance
202.6 mi
326 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 52m
★
6 AM
3h 3m
8 AM
3h 26m
10 AM
3h 11m
12 PM
3h 9m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 25m
8 PM
2h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Norwalk, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Norwalk, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 202.6 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sunset Drive, Highway 28, Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.67 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
101.3 miles from Norwalk, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset Drive | — | — |
| Highway 28 | — | — |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | — | — |
| I-35 north | — | — |
| I 80 west | — | — |
| John MacVicar Freeway | — | — |
| I 880 West | — | — |
| I 29 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Sunset Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Norwalk, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto Sunset Drive
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
·
Sunset Drive
3
Continue on State Highway 28
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 28
4
Take the ramp slight right
0.6 mi
·
1 min
5
Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
6
Keep slight left to continue on I-35 north: Minneapolis
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I-35 north: Minneapolis
7
Merge slight left
4.3 mi
·
5 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 west: Council Bluffs
9
Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
John MacVicar Freeway
10
Merge slight right
95 mi
·
1 hr 41 min
11
Keep slight right to continue on I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
17 mi
·
17 min
·
I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 29 North: Sioux City
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 29 North: Sioux City
13
Merge slight left
75 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
15
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Floyd Boulevard
16
Turn left onto 5th Street
397 ft
·
15 sec
·
5th Street
17
Turn right onto Iowa Street
344 ft
·
7 sec
·
Iowa Street
18
Keep slight left to continue on 6th Street
427 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
19
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Court Street
20
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
9th Street
21
Turn right
115 ft
·
9 sec
22
Arrive at your destination
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 101.3 miles from Norwalk, IA, or about 1h 31m 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 45 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.3 miles or 1h 31m 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 30m
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 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 202.6 miles and 3h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 101.3 miles from Norwalk, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.67 one way
$63.35 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.78 | $69.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.99 | $77.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.73 | $89.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.8 | 0 | $21.27 | $9.72 |
| Efficient EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.73 | $8.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81 | 1 | $28.36 | $12.97 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Afternoon in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
1:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Avoca, IA
101 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
25 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
3h 3m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
202.6 mi in 3h 3m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Sunset Drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 3m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Norwalk, IA to Sioux City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 202.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Norwalk, IA to Sioux City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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