The drive from West Burlington, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 363.7 miles and takes about 6h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, US 34, I 29 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.8 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.86 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
181.9 miles from West Burlington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 52m. Total distance: 363.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
This is a 6h 52m highway drive covering 363.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and US 34. The longest continuous stretch is about 94.8 miles on I 80.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 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 94.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 34. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 173.9 miles in near Ramp 72 J.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 363.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 173.9 miles (Ramp 72 J): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.8 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 27 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
173.9 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|Ramp 72 J
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
9
269.8 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
286.4 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
6
362.5 mi into trip|~6h 48m in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
363.2 mi into trip|~6h 50m in|6th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Burlington, IA and Sioux City, IA, road signs point toward Fairfield and Knoxville.
Fairfield
23.9 mi in|~29m|via US 34; IA 163
Knoxville
104.3 mi in|~2h 3m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
94.8 mi
1h 41m
US 34
83.9 mi
1h 37m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
A Avenue West
32.4 mi
36m
State Highway 5
19.2 mi
22m
US 63
16.7 mi
19m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.3 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Burlington, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on East Wheeler Street
22 ft·3 sec·East Wheeler Street
2
Turn right onto Broadway Street
365 ft·19 sec·Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto West Mount Pleasant Street
1.6 mi·3 min·West Mount Pleasant Street
4
Turn left
0.3 mi·36 sec
5
Merge onto US 34; IA 163
22 mi·25 min·US 34; IA 163
6
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.8 mi·1 min·US 34; IA 163
Toward US 218, IA 27 North: Iowa City, Fairfield
7
Merge onto US 34; US 218; IA 27; IA 163
1.8 mi·2 min·Avenue of the Saints
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 34; IA 163
Exit 45
9
Continue on US 63; IA 163
17 mi·19 min·US 63; IA 163
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville
11
Turn left onto IA 92
32 mi·36 min·A Avenue West
12
Turn right
0.1 mi·7 sec
13
Continue on IA 5
19 mi·22 min·State Highway 5
14
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
16
Merge onto I 35
4.3 mi·5 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J
0.5 mi·1 min·Ramp 72 J
Exit 72BToward I 80 west: Council BluffsUse the straight / right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 235
0.5 mi·40 sec·John MacVicar Freeway
19
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
22
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
24
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
25
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
26
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
27
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
29
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
30
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
31
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.9 miles from West Burlington, IA, or about 3h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.9 miles or 3h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving West Burlington, 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 West Burlington, IA
This is one driving day of about 363.7 miles and 6h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Burlington, 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 94.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 181.9 mi from West Burlington, IA
· 3h 33m into the drive
The midpoint is around 181.9 miles from West Burlington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.8 miles.
Arriving in Sioux City, IA
The final approach into Sioux City, 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 Sioux City, 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
$56.86 one way
$113.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$62.43
$124.86
premium
$4.89
$69.99
$139.98
diesel
$5.61
$80.30
$160.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$57
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.1
1
$38.19
$17.46
Efficient EV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.55
EV Truck/SUV
145.5
1
$50.92
$23.28
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 13, 2026
Origin
West Burlington, IA
Late night
in West Burlington on Saturday
Local time
3:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 15 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:22AM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
3:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°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
30 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
6h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from West Burlington, IA to Sioux City, IA covers 363.7 miles and takes about 6h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, US 34, I 29. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 181.9 miles from West Burlington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.86 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 363.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 173.9 miles (Ramp 72 J): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.8 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between West Burlington, IA and Sioux City, IA, road signs point toward Fairfield and Knoxville.
