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Trip from Sioux City, IA to Boone, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 24m

Distance

161.1 mi

259 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 12m ★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 33m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 34m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 17m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city ​​in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in Iowa, United States

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Iowa, United States

Boone, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Sioux City, IA to Boone, IA covers 161.1 miles and takes about 3h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 220th Street, Highway 20, US 169 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 73.7 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.19 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

80.6 miles from Sioux City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 24m. Total distance: 161.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (40%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

The drive from Sioux City, IA to Boone, IA covers 161.1 miles and takes about 3h 24m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 73.7 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 early in the drive near 9th Street.

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 24m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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 0.4 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These 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

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | 7th Street

Turn left onto 7th Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | Iowa Street

Turn right onto Iowa Street

Navigation decision point

4
1.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 20 Business / Gordon Drive

Turn left onto US 20 Business / Gordon Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
220th Street 73.7 mi 1h 26m
Highway 20 39.4 mi 47m
US 169 16.2 mi 22m
Lainson Avenue 12.2 mi 16m
United States Highway 20 8.3 mi 10m
360th Street 3.9 mi 5m
Gordon Drive 3.4 mi 6m
South Story Street 1.7 mi 3m
Longest stretch: 220th Street — 73.7 mi, about 1h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Boone, 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

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Court Street
4

Turn left onto 7th Street

399 ft · 19 sec · 7th Street
5

Turn right onto Iowa Street

423 ft · 23 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
Use the left / straight lanes.
8

Turn left onto US 20 Business

3.4 mi · 6 min · Gordon Drive
Use the left lane.
9

Continue on US 20

39 mi · 47 min · Highway 20
Use the right lane.
10

Continue on US 20

8.3 mi · 10 min · United States Highway 20
11

Continue on US 20

62 mi · 1 hr 11 min · 220th Street
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Toward US 169
13

Turn right onto US 169

12 mi · 16 min · Lainson Avenue
14

Turn left onto US 169

3.9 mi · 5 min · 360th Street
15

Take the exit onto US 169

16 mi · 22 min · US 169
16

Turn left onto US 30; US 169

12 mi · 14 min · 220th Street
17

Turn left onto South Story Street

1.7 mi · 3 min · South Story Street
18

Turn left onto Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

67 ft · 1 sec · Mamie Eisenhower Avenue
19

Arrive at destination

Mamie Eisenhower Avenue

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 80.6 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.7 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 35 miles or 47m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.6 miles or 1h 40m 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 44m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boone, 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 161.1 miles and 3h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 220th Street for about 73.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 80.6 mi from Sioux City, IA · 1h 40m into the drive

city in Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Storm Lake, IA

81 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

Ida Grove, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.6 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.7 miles.

Arriving in Boone, IA

The final approach into Boone, 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 Boone, 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

$25.19 one way

$50.37 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.65 $55.31
premium $4.89 $31.00 $62.00
diesel $5.61 $35.57 $71.14

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.3 0 $16.92 $7.73
Efficient EV 40.3 0 $14.10 $6.44
EV Truck/SUV 64.4 0 $22.55 $10.31

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Sioux City, IA

Night in Sioux City on Friday

Local time

10:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Boone, IA

Night in Boone on Friday

Local time

10:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°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 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 24m 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 Boone, IA covers 161.1 miles and takes about 3h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 220th Street, Highway 20, US 169. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 80.6 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 $25.19 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 is a straightforward 3h 24m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point.

The route from Sioux City, IA to Boone, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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