Origin
Sioux City, IA
Evening in Sioux City on Wednesday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux City, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
191.6 mi
308 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 26m
★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 47m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 2m
8 PM
3h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo (historical), IA
Karolina
Trip Overview
This 191.6-mile drive from Sioux City, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA is a straightforward 3-hour and 38-minute journey, making it an ideal one-day trip. You'll primarily be on major interstates, with an 89% highway share, covering a total of 191.6 miles. Budget around $30 for fuel, and anticipate a mostly highway-focused experience across the Midwest. This route is designed for efficiency, allowing you to reach your destination with minimal fuss. It's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
95.8 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 89% of the route on interstates. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 78.6 miles on I-80, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While predominantly interstate, the journey transitions smoothly between I-29 and I-880 before merging onto I-80. This character means you'll experience consistent speeds and straightforward navigation for most of the 3-hour and 38-minute duration.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 78.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Street.
Route Complexity
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Court Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
5th Street
Turn left onto 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
94 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sioux City, IA and Buffalo (historical), IA, road signs point toward Cr F90 and Cr P58.
Cr F90
173.3 mi in
|
~3h 10m
Cr P58
173.3 mi in
|
~3h 10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 78.6 mi | 1h 24m |
| I 29 | 75.6 mi | 1h 21m |
| I 880 | 16 mi | 17m |
| North Avenue | 13.2 mi | 20m |
| 360th Street | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Clark Tower Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Floyd Boulevard | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Court Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 78.6 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Buffalo (historical), IA.
1
Start on this road
115 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
9th Street
3
Turn right onto Court Street
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Court Street
4
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Floyd Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 29 South
7
Merge onto I 29
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 29
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 71
Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
9
Continue on I 880
16 mi
·
17 min
·
I 880
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 80
79 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
I 80
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Toward CR F90, CR P58
13
Turn right onto CR P58
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
360th Street
14
Turn right onto US 169
13 mi
·
20 min
·
North Avenue
15
Continue on CR P71
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Clark Tower Road
16
Turn left onto CR G50
343 ft
·
10 sec
·
St Charles Road
17
Turn right onto Maple Lane
195 ft
·
8 sec
·
Maple Lane
18
Arrive at destination
Maple Lane
Trip Plan
Given this is a relatively short drive of just over three and a half hours, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $30, planning is minimal. It's worth noting the longest stretch is 78.6 miles on I-80, so ensure you have snacks or a full tank before embarking on that segment. Take advantage of the direct highway nature of this route to maximize your time at your destination or to start your journey later in the day.
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 95.8 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.6 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 42 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.8 miles or 1h 47m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo (historical), IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sioux 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 Sioux City, IA
This is one driving day of about 191.6 miles and 3h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Sioux 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 I 80 for about 78.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.8 mi from Sioux City, IA · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.8 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.6 miles.
Arriving in Buffalo (historical), IA
The final approach into Buffalo (historical), 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 Buffalo (historical), IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.95 one way
$59.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.89 | $65.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.87 | $73.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.30 | $84.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.5 | 0 | $20.12 | $9.20 |
| Efficient EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.76 | $7.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.6 | 0 | $26.82 | $12.26 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Buffalo (historical), IA
Evening in Buffalo (historical) on Wednesday
Local time
7:42 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Avoca, IA
96 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
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 38m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Sioux City, IA to Buffalo (historical), IA covers 191.6 miles and takes about 3h 38m 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 95.8 miles from Sioux City, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.95 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.6 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Between Sioux City, IA and Buffalo (historical), IA, road signs point toward Cr F90 and Cr P58.
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