Williamsburg to Dubuque is 110 miles and takes about 2 hours 17 minutes via US 151, I 80, and State Highway 1, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points without significant detours or complex navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Williamsburg, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 109.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 95% of the journey taking place on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 49.7 miles on US 151, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The route begins on I 80 before transitioning to US 151, which forms the backbone of this journey. Expect a smooth, relatively uninterrupted driving experience with minimal exposure to slower, local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 151 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 and I 80. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Welsh Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Welsh Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.3 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 109.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Welsh Street
Turn left onto West Welsh Street
Navigation decision point
5
46.3 mi into trip|~58m in|IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
109.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
5
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
49.7 mi
58m
I 80
25.6 mi
28m
State Highway 1
15.5 mi
21m
Highway 1 Northeast
10.7 mi
14m
1st Avenue South
1.5 mi
2m
South Market Street
1.4 mi
2m
State Highway 149
1.3 mi
2m
US 61
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 49.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Williamsburg, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on Court Street
142 ft·11 sec·Court Street
2
Turn left onto West Welsh Street
399 ft·13 sec·West Welsh Street
3
Turn left onto IA 149
0.4 mi·34 sec·South Highland Street
4
Continue on IA 149
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 149
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 80
26 mi·28 min·I 80
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
8
Turn left onto IA 1
0.7 mi·1 min·North Dodge Street
9
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi·10 min·Highway 1 Northeast
10
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi·2 min·South Market Street
11
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1 Northeast
12
Continue on IA 1
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 1
13
Enter roundabout onto IA 1
132 ft·5 sec·State Highway 1
14
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi·18 sec·State Highway 1
15
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Avenue South
16
Continue on IA 1
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 1
17
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
18
Merge onto US 151
45 mi·51 min·US 151
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
22
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
23
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
24
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 2 hours and 17 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility for departure times. You'll want to plan your departure to take advantage of daylight, especially considering the 109.7-mile distance. There are no specific stop recommendations provided, so you can decide on your own pace for breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major town is nearly 50 miles on US 151, so ensure you're fueled up before that segment.
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 54.9 miles from Williamsburg, IA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 24 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 1h 10m 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 52m
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 Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg, IA
This is one driving day of about 109.7 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Williamsburg, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 151 for about 49.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 54.9 mi from Williamsburg, IA
· 1h 10m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.9
0
$11.52
$5.27
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.60
$4.39
EV Truck/SUV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Williamsburg, IA
Morning
in Williamsburg on Friday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Friday
Local time
7:53 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Lisbon, IA
55 mi in
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
25 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 17m 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 Williamsburg, IA to Dubuque, IA covers 109.7 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 151, I 80, State Highway 1. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54.9 miles from Williamsburg, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.15 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Welsh Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.3 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 109.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Williamsburg, IA to Dubuque, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
