This 318.5-mile drive from Orange City, IA, to Dubuque, IA, is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 6 hours and 24 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via US 20, with a significant portion on 220th Street, covering about 39% of the journey on highways. With a projected fuel cost of $50 and a single recommended stop, this Midwest to Midwest journey offers a straightforward, manageable travel experience. It's a route that can easily be completed in one go, allowing for a full day of exploration upon arrival in Dubuque.
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
159.3 miles from Orange City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 16m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 24m. Total distance: 318.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending faster highway travel with more local road experiences. While 39% of the journey is on highways, you'll also spend considerable time on roads like 220th Street, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch at 165.9 miles. This suggests a drive that transitions between efficiency and a more grounded, regional feel as you progress across Iowa. The road's personality shifts, offering varied driving conditions that keep things engaging over the 6-plus hours.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 165.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 24m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 318 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast
Turn left onto IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
43.2 mi into trip|~1h 1m in|US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
318 mi into trip|~6h 23m in|US 61; US 151
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
318.1 mi into trip|~6h 23m 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
318.5 mi into trip|~6h 24m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
165.9 mi
3h 11m
US 20
81.4 mi
1h 36m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
15.1 mi
20m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
County Road L14
7 mi
9m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
Kiwi Avenue
5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Orange City, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Street Northwest
430 ft·25 sec·2nd Street Northwest
2
Turn right onto Albany Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Albany Avenue
3
Turn left onto IA 10
0.2 mi·35 sec·8th Street Southeast
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi·1 min·450th Street
5
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
79 ft·4 sec·450th Street
6
Continue on 450th Street
2.0 mi·2 min·450th Street
7
Turn right onto IA 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Kennedy Avenue
8
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·State Highway 10
9
Continue on IA 10
1.8 mi·2 min·460th Street
10
Turn right onto L14
5.0 mi·6 min·Kiwi Avenue
11
Continue on L14
7.0 mi·9 min·County Road L14
12
Continue on IA 140
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 140
13
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
14
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
15
Continue on L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
16
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
18
Continue on US 20
166 mi·3 hr 11 min·220th Street
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 20
20
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi·20 sec·IA 946
Toward IA 946
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft·13 sec·US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
24
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
25
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
26
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour 24-minute duration, starting your trip from Orange City in the morning is advisable to maximize your time in Dubuque. With only one recommended stop and a manageable fuel cost of around $50, you have flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 165.9-mile stretch on 220th Street, as services might be less frequent. This route is well-suited for a single-day push, but consider an early start to avoid feeling rushed.
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 159.3 miles from Orange City, IA, or about 3h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 70 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.3 miles or 3h 16m 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 15m
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 Orange City, 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 Orange City, IA
This is one driving day of about 318.5 miles and 6h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Orange City, 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 220th Street for about 165.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 159.3 mi from Orange City, IA
· 3h 16m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.79 one way
$99.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.67
$109.34
premium
$4.89
$61.29
$122.58
diesel
$5.61
$70.32
$140.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Waterloo, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Fort Dodge, Iowa
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Waterloo, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge: 2
Tesla: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.6
1
$33.44
$15.29
Efficient EV
79.6
0
$27.87
$12.74
EV Truck/SUV
127.4
1
$44.59
$20.38
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Orange City, IA
Evening
in Orange City on Friday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Evening
in Dubuque on Friday
Local time
7:56 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
2 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 24m 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 Orange City, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 318.5 miles and takes about 6h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, US 20, Highway 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 159.3 miles from Orange City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.79 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 24m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (IA 10 / 8th Street Southeast): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 20 / Highway 20): Lane positioning matters here; at 318 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Orange City, 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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
