Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Dubuque, IA

Drive Time

3h 56m

Distance

195 mi

314 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh

Trip Overview

Spanning 195 miles across the Iowa landscape, this trip from West Des Moines to Dubuque takes approximately 3 hours and 56 minutes. You can easily complete this journey in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those who prefer to reach their destination without an overnight split. Budget about $30 for fuel to cover the distance, which traverses the heart of the Midwest. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you should expect a more immersive experience than a standard interstate trek. It is a straightforward drive, but the turn-heavy nature of the roads means you will need to stay alert behind the wheel.

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

97.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a departure from the typical high-speed interstate monotony, as this route is characterized by its turn-heavy, local road profile. With only 15% of the trip spent on highways, your experience will be defined by navigating a variety of secondary routes like the Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, and 200th Avenue. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 37-mile segment on the Lincoln Highway, providing a brief period of steady driving. As you progress, the road surface and traffic patterns will shift frequently, demanding your full attention. This is a hands-on driving experience that rewards those who enjoy navigating diverse road types rather than just cruising on a straight path.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Lincoln Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 37 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Grand Avenue.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 195 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 0.6 miles (Grand Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.6 mi into trip | ~1m in | Grand Avenue

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / none lanes.

11 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 137A-B Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council B...

11.3 mi into trip | ~16m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 East: Davenport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport

15 mi into trip | ~21m in | US 65

Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...

194.5 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in

Take the exit toward White Street, Port of Dubuque

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 189A Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque

Towns Along This Route

Between West Des Moines, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Bondurant and Marion.

Council Bluffs

11 mi in | ~16m

Davenport

11 mi in | ~16m

Bondurant

15 mi in | ~21m | via US 65

Marion

114.4 mi in | ~2h 18m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Lincoln Highway	37 mi	42m
Northeast Hubbell Road	33.5 mi	39m
200th Avenue	32.4 mi	37m
73rd Street	26.8 mi	30m
Marion Airport Road	24.1 mi	27m
IA 100	9.4 mi	11m
John MacVicar Freeway	8.8 mi	11m
US 151	6.2 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Lincoln Highway — 37 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Des Moines, IA and Dubuque, IA.

Start on Vine Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Vine Street

Turn left onto 4th Street

0.4 mi · 55 sec · 4th Street

Turn right onto Grand Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Grand Avenue

Use the left / none lanes.

Turn left onto 56th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 56th Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec

Toward I-235 east

Merge onto I 235

8.8 mi · 11 min · John MacVicar Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 137A-B Toward I 35 South, I 80: Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Davenport Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 39 sec

Exit 137A Toward I 80 East: Davenport Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 80

3.4 mi · 3 min · I 80

Use the none lane.

Take the exit onto US 65

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 65

Exit 142 Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto US 65; IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

Continue on US 65; IA 330

33 mi · 39 min · Northeast Hubbell Road

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto US 30

37 mi · 42 min · Lincoln Highway

Continue on US 30

27 mi · 30 min · 73rd Street

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min

Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion

Continue on IA 100

9.4 mi · 11 min · IA 100

Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100

5.9 mi · 7 min · Collins Road Northeast

Turn left onto US 151; IA 13

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 151; IA 13

Turn right onto US 151

24 mi · 27 min · Marion Airport Road

Continue on US 151

32 mi · 37 min · 200th Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto US 151

5.1 mi · 7 min · US 151

Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 61; US 151

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 189A Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque

Continue on White Street

0.1 mi · 27 sec · White Street

Turn left onto East 7th Street

284 ft · 19 sec · East 7th Street

Turn left onto Central Avenue

31 ft · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Arrive at destination

Central Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the nearly four-hour duration, try to depart early in the morning to maximize your time once you arrive in Dubuque. Since the route includes only one planned stop, use that break strategically to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of this drive can be more tiring than highway cruising, so adjust your pace accordingly. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the shorter distance allows you to adapt your schedule if you encounter unexpected traffic on the local roads. A helpful tip for this specific journey is to keep a close eye on your GPS during the transitions between the Lincoln Highway and smaller connectors, as frequent turns can be easy to miss.

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 97.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, or about 1h 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 97.5 miles or 1h 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dubuque, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving West Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, IA

This is one driving day of about 195 miles and 3h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from West Des Moines, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 97.5 mi from West Des Moines, IA · 1h 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Rapids, IA

98 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

Waterloo, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 97.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dubuque, IA

The final approach into Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, 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

$29.62 one way

$59.24 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 68 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$32.65	$65.30
premium	$4.80	$36.81	$73.62
diesel	$5.64	$43.32	$86.64

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: 68.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	58.5	$20.47	$9.36
Efficient EV	48.8	$17.06	$7.80
EV Truck/SUV	78	$27.30	$12.48

Gas CO2

68 kg

EV CO2

23 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

West Des Moines, IA

Afternoon in West Des Moines on Sunday

Local time

1:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dubuque, IA

Afternoon in Dubuque on Sunday

Local time

1:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

51°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

8 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 56m 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 West Des Moines, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 195 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, 200th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 97.5 miles from West Des Moines, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.62 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.

Between West Des Moines, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Council Bluffs, Davenport, Bondurant and Marion.

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Trip from West Des Moines, IA to Dubuque, IA

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Dubuque, IA

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

West Des Moines, IA

Dubuque, IA

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

3h 56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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