Embark on a 184.2-mile journey from Altoona, IA, to Dubuque, IA, a drive that will take approximately 3 hours. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. With a projected fuel cost of around $28, it's an economical option for exploring within Iowa. Expect a more turn-heavy local drive experience rather than an interstate cruise. This route keeps you within the familiar Midwest region, offering a straightforward exploration of the state.
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
90 miles from Altoona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
200th Avenue
32.4 mi
37m
Northeast Hubbell Road
32.1 mi
37m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
Marion Airport Road
24.1 mi
27m
IA 100
9.4 mi
11m
US 151
6.2 mi
8m
Collins Road Northeast
5.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
1.0 mi·1 min·1st Avenue South
2
Enter roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
107 ft·2 sec·1st Avenue North
3
Continue on 1st Avenue North
0.6 mi·1 min·1st Avenue North
4
Continue on Northeast 72nd Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·Northeast 72nd Street
5
Continue on Grant Street South
1.3 mi·2 min·Grant Street South
6
Continue on Grant Street South
135 ft·7 sec·Grant Street South
7
Turn right onto US 65; IA 330
32 mi·37 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
9
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
10
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
12
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
13
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
14
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
15
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi·27 min·Marion Airport Road
16
Continue on US 151
32 mi·37 min·200th Avenue
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
20
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
21
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
22
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
23
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
With a short 3-hour duration, this 184.2-mile drive from Altoona to Dubuque offers great flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps after a relaxed breakfast in Altoona. Since there's only one stop suggested and no particularly long stretches on high-speed roads, you can easily break up the journey as needed, perhaps for a quick refreshment or to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the estimated cost is $28; topping up before leaving Altoona is a good idea. The 'turn-heavy' nature of this route means paying close attention to navigation, especially around the listed main roads like 1st Avenue North and Northeast 72nd Street.
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 90 miles from Altoona, IA, or about 1h 46m 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 40 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90 miles or 1h 46m 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 55m
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 Altoona, 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 Altoona, IA
This is one driving day of about 180 miles and 3h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Altoona, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 180 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1 mi into trip|~1m in|1st Avenue North
Enter roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
99.4 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
6
179.5 mi into trip|~3h 34m 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
179.9 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
180 mi into trip|~3h 35m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.14 one way
$56.28 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.90
$61.80
premium
$4.89
$34.64
$69.28
diesel
$5.61
$39.74
$79.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54
0
$18.90
$8.64
Efficient EV
45
0
$15.75
$7.20
EV Truck/SUV
72
0
$25.20
$11.52
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Altoona, IA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon
in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
4:52 PM
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
22 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
3h 35m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you won't be spending much, if any, time on high-speed highways, as indicated by the 0% highway share. The drive unfolds primarily on local roads, including segments of 1st Avenue North, Northeast 72nd Street, and Grant Street South. Given the nature of local roads, expect a more varied pace with frequent turns and potentially lower speed limits. Without a 'longest stretch' noted, it suggests a continuous series of turns and road changes, keeping you engaged behind the wheel.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near 1st Avenue North.
Driving Effort6/10
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 180 miles you will encounter 12 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: at 1 miles (1st Avenue North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 99.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Altoona, IA to Dubuque, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
Dubuque, founded in 1833, is the oldest city in Iowa. A port on the upper Mississippi River, it is situated along scenic bluffs facing the river, and has its roots in a mining and trading settlement established in the area by Quebec-born entrepreneur Julien Dubuque in 1788. The city's population is 57,686 (2000 Census), and the estimated population of the Dubuque metropolitan area is 93,072.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 35m. Total distance: 180 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dubuque, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (1st Avenue North): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 99.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 179.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Dubuque, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
