Origin
Sioux City, IA
Evening in Sioux City on Wednesday
Local time
7:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux City, IA to Alta, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
68.7 mi
111 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 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
Alta, IA
Tara Winstead
Trip Overview
The drive from Sioux City, IA to Alta, IA covers 68.7 miles and takes about 1h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 9th Street, Court Street, 7th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.74 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
34.4 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 35m drive with frequent turns across 68.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
9th Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Sioux City, IA to Alta, IA is easy. At 1h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sioux City, IA to Alta, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 9th Street | — | — |
| Court Street | — | — |
| 7th Street | — | — |
| Iowa Street | — | — |
| 6th Street | — | — |
| Fairmount Street | — | — |
| Gordon Drive | — | — |
| Highway 20 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
9th Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Alta, IA.
1
Start on the route
115 ft
·
14 sec
·
the route
2
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
9th Street
3
Turn right onto Court Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Court Street
4
Turn left onto 7th Street
400 ft
·
19 sec
·
7th Street
5
Turn right onto Iowa Street
423 ft
·
24 sec
·
Iowa Street
6
Turn left onto 6th Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Street
7
Continue on Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairmount Street
8
Turn left onto Gordon Drive
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Gordon Drive
9
Continue on Highway 20
27 mi
·
32 min
·
Highway 20
10
Turn left onto State Highway 31
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 31
11
Continue on Lincoln Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Street
12
Continue on State Highway 31
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 31
13
Continue on 610th Street
13 mi
·
18 min
·
610th Street
14
Turn left onto 20th Avenue
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
20th Avenue
15
Turn right onto Highway 7
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Highway 7
16
Turn left onto 60th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
60th Avenue
17
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 47m 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 15 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.4 miles or 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 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alta, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Sioux City, IA
This is one driving day of about 68.7 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Sioux City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 34.4 mi from Sioux City, IA · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alta, IA
The final approach into Alta, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.74 one way
$21.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.79 | $23.59 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.22 | $26.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.17 | $30.34 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.21 | $3.30 |
| Efficient EV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.01 | $2.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.62 | $4.40 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Alta, IA
Evening in Alta on Wednesday
Local time
7:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
1 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
1h 35m 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 Alta, IA covers 68.7 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 9th Street, Court Street, 7th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.4 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 $10.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Sioux City, IA to Alta, IA is easy. At 1h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sioux City, IA to Alta, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sioux City, IA to Alta, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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