Drive Time
5h 10m
Distance
318.1 mi
512 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh
The drive from Sheldon, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 318.1 miles and takes about 5h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 2nd Avenue, Log Avenue, 460th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.32 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
159 miles from Sheldon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 10m drive with frequent turns across 318.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 10m 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 Sheldon, IA to Dubuque, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Log Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 460th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Garfield Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Nettle Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| D Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ames Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 490th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Sheldon, IA and Dubuque, IA.
Start on 9th Street
Turn left onto 2nd Avenue
Take the ramp right
Turn left onto Log Avenue
Turn left onto 460th Street
Continue on Garfield Street
Continue on 460th Street
Turn right onto Nettle Avenue
Continue on D Avenue
Continue on Ames Avenue
Turn left onto 490th Street
Continue on State Highway 3
Continue on 500th Street
Turn straight onto State Highway 3
Turn left onto 530th Street
Turn right onto V Avenue
Continue on 1st Street
Continue on State Highway 7
Continue on Highway 7
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
Continue on Armstrong Avenue
At the end of the road, turn left onto 220th Street
Keep slight left
Turn left onto South Locust Street
Turn straight onto IA 946
At the end of the road, turn left
Take the exit slight right toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
Continue on White Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dubuque, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Sheldon, 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 Sheldon, IA
This is one driving day of about 318.1 miles and 5h 10m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 159 mi from Sheldon, IA · 2h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 159 miles from Sheldon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$48.32 one way
$96.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $53.26 | $106.53 |
| premium | $4.80 | $60.05 | $120.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $70.67 | $141.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.4 | 1 | $33.40 | $15.27 |
| Efficient EV | 79.5 | 0 | $27.83 | $12.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.2 | 1 | $44.53 | $20.36 |
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Sheldon on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
8:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
42°F
Ames, IA
159 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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