Origin
Sioux City, IA
Late night in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
2:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux City, IA to Emmetsburg, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 46m
Distance
122.8 mi
198 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 36m
★
6 AM
2h 47m
8 AM
3h 8m
10 AM
2h 54m
12 PM
2h 52m
3 PM
2h 55m
5 PM
3h 7m
8 PM
2h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Emmetsburg, IA
Christiyana Krüger
Trip Overview
This 122.8-mile drive from Sioux City, IA to Emmetsburg, IA is a straightforward journey through the heart of the Midwest, easily manageable as a single-day trip. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 46 minutes on the road, with a fuel cost estimated at $19. The route utilizes a mix of highways, including IA 60 and US 75 Business, offering a balanced driving experience. With only one recommended stop, this trip is ideal for those looking for an efficient transit between these two Iowa communities.
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
61.4 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 122.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (48%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
The drive is characterized as a 'Mixed drive,' with 48% of the route on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 34.4-mile segment on IA 60, which likely offers a more consistent pace. The road character will likely shift as you transition between primary highways and local roads. This blend means you can expect periods of steady travel interspersed with moments that require more attention to local conditions, making for a varied but generally smooth experience.
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.
IA 60 is the longest continuous segment at about 34.4 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 2h 46m drive. You will face about 15 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 1.7 miles (US 75 Business): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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 left onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 75 Business
Turn left onto US 75 Business
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
93 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
|
B24 / County Road B24
At end of road, turn left onto B24 / County Road B24
Navigation decision point
5
122.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m in
|
8th Street
Turn right onto 8th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 60 | 34.4 mi | 39m |
| 320th Street | 28.8 mi | 40m |
| US 75 Business | 24.3 mi | 31m |
| 360th Street | 22.4 mi | 32m |
| 180th Avenue | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| 11th Street Southwest | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West 4th Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| County Road B24 | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
IA 60
— 34.4 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Emmetsburg, IA.
1
Start on this road
115 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
9th Street
3
Turn left onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Court Street
4
Turn right onto 11th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
11th Street
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
6
Continue on Terminal Drive
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Terminal Drive
7
Turn right onto 18th Street
239 ft
·
8 sec
·
18th Street
8
Turn left onto US 75 Business
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
US 75 Business
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the ramp onto US 75 Business
21 mi
·
26 min
·
US 75 Business
10
Continue on IA 60
34 mi
·
39 min
·
IA 60
Toward IA 60 North: Sheldon
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward US 18: Spencer
12
Turn right onto US 18
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
320th Street
13
Continue on US 18
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US-18
14
Continue on US 18
21 mi
·
29 min
·
320th Street
15
Turn right onto 180th Avenue
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
180th Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto B24
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road B24
17
Continue on West 4th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 4th Street
18
Turn right onto 32nd Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
32nd Avenue West
19
Continue on 200th Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
200th Avenue
20
Turn left onto 360th Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
360th Street
21
Continue on US 71
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
11th Street Southwest
22
Continue on US 18
21 mi
·
30 min
·
360th Street
23
Continue on US 18; IA 4
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Avenue
24
Continue on US 18; IA 4
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
25
Turn left onto Madison Street
335 ft
·
16 sec
·
Madison Street
26
Turn right onto 8th Street
240 ft
·
10 sec
·
8th Street
27
Arrive at destination
8th Street
Trip Plan
Given its manageable 2-hour and 46-minute duration, this route is perfect for a day trip, allowing you flexibility in your departure time. Plan for one stop to break up the 122.8 miles, perhaps around the halfway point or where it aligns with your needs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longer 34.4-mile stretch on IA 60, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. The estimated fuel cost of $19 is a helpful budgeting tool for this journey.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 61.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 27 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.4 miles or 1h 17m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Emmetsburg, 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 122.8 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 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 IA 60 for about 34.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.4 mi from Sioux City, IA · 1h 17m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
61 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 61.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Emmetsburg, IA
The final approach into Emmetsburg, 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 Emmetsburg, 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
$19.20 one way
$38.40 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
43 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.08 | $42.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.63 | $47.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.11 | $54.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.89 | $5.89 |
| Efficient EV | 30.7 | 0 | $10.75 | $4.91 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 49.1 | 0 | $17.19 | $7.86 |
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Emmetsburg, IA
Late night in Emmetsburg on Saturday
Local time
2:25 AM
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
2h 46m 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 Emmetsburg, IA covers 122.8 miles and takes about 2h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are IA 60, 320th Street, US 75 Business. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.4 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 $19.20 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.
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 2h 46m drive. You will face about 15 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 1.7 miles (US 75 Business): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sioux City, IA to Emmetsburg, 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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