Crossing Iowa from Bellevue to Sioux City covers 322.5 miles, a journey that typically takes about 6 hours and 28 minutes. Because this is a manageable distance for a dedicated driver, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $49 on fuel for the trip, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will utilize a combination of US 52, Highway 20, and the Avenue of the Saints to navigate across the state. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward path through the heart of the Midwest. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between these two Iowa points.
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
161.3 miles from Bellevue, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
160.2 mi
3h 4m
US 52
82 mi
1h 35m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
Great River Road
16.7 mi
22m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
Southwest Arterial
5.2 mi
7m
South Riverview Street
2.5 mi
4m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 160.2 mi, about 3h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on US 52
2.5 mi·4 min·South Riverview Street
2
Continue on US 52
7.6 mi·10 min·Great River Road
3
Continue on US 52
0.5 mi·54 sec·Main Street
4
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi·12 min·Great River Road
5
Continue on US 52
0.7 mi·1 min·Bellevue Road
6
Turn left onto US 61; US 151; US 52
1.6 mi·2 min·US 61; US 151; US 52
7
Take the exit onto US 52
0.4 mi·55 sec·US 52
Toward US 52 North
8
Continue on US 52
4.9 mi·6 min·Southwest Arterial
9
Enter roundabout onto US 52
100 ft·5 sec·Southwest Arterial
10
Continue on US 52
0.2 mi·35 sec·Southwest Arterial
11
Turn left onto US 52
82 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 52
Toward US 20 East, US 52 North: Waterloo, DyersvilleUse the left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
14
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
15
Continue on US 20
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
18
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
19
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
20
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 6-hour and 28-minute drive, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Since the total fuel cost is estimated at $49, keeping a close eye on your tank levels during the 160.2-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints is a smart move. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to ensure you reach Sioux City before the end of the day while maintaining a relaxed pace. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on traffic patterns or personal preference. Remember that the route's mixed nature means your speed will fluctuate, so build in a little extra time for those slower segments on Highway 20 and US 52.
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 161.3 miles from Bellevue, IA, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.2 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 71 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.3 miles or 3h 14m 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 13m
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 Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA
This is one driving day of about 322.5 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Bellevue, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 160.2 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 22 and 322.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
22 mi into trip|~31m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 52 North
8
27.6 mi into trip|~39m in|US 52
Turn left onto US 52 toward US 20 East, US 52 North: Waterloo, Dyersville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 20 East, US 52 North: Waterloo, Dyers...
6
320.6 mi into trip|~6h 23m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
322.3 mi into trip|~6h 27m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
322.5 mi into trip|~6h 28m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.42 one way
$100.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$55.36
$110.72
premium
$4.89
$62.06
$124.12
diesel
$5.61
$71.20
$142.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.8
1
$33.86
$15.48
Efficient EV
80.6
0
$28.22
$12.90
EV Truck/SUV
129
1
$45.15
$20.64
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bellevue, IA
Evening
in Bellevue on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Evening
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
8:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
161 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 28m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition between different road types throughout the 322.5-mile journey. With about 40% of the route consisting of highway travel, you will find a balance between faster transit and more local road segments. The longest stretch you will encounter is a 160.2-mile run along the Avenue of the Saints, which provides a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel time. As you navigate from Bellevue to Sioux City, the personality of the road shifts from the initial local stretches to the more expansive highway corridors. Be prepared for a varied rhythm behind the wheel that keeps the drive engaging without feeling like a monotonous interstate grind.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 160.2 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 around 22 miles in near US 52.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 28m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.6 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 320.6 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Bellevue, IA to Sioux City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dyersville along the way.
Dyersville
27.6 mi in|~39m|via US 52
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 28m. Total distance: 322.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 160.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Sioux City, 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 22 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.6 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 320.6 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 12.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sioux City, IA before the return drive.
