Origin
Belmond, IA
Late night in Belmond on Sunday
Local time
5:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Belmond, IA to Sioux City, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
171.7 mi
276 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 20m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belmond, IA
Uiliam Nörnberg
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 171.7-mile journey from Belmond, IA, to Sioux City, IA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. You'll primarily travel on US 20, with brief sections of US 69 and River Avenue South. Given its manageable length and the estimated fuel cost of $27, it's a straightforward drive without the need for an overnight stay. The route stays within the Midwest region, offering a consistent feel throughout your travels. This trip is ideal for those looking for an efficient way to connect two points in Iowa.
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
85.9 miles from Belmond, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 141 mi | 2h 47m |
| US 69 | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| River Avenue South | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| 6th Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Fairmount Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Court Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 9th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 141 mi, about 2h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belmond, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue Northeast
61 ft
·
4 sec
·
2nd Avenue Northeast
2
Turn right onto East Main Street
0.1 mi
·
37 sec
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 69
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
River Avenue South
4
Turn left onto US 69
19 mi
·
26 min
·
US 69
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward US 20 West
6
Merge onto US 20
141 mi
·
2 hr 47 min
·
US 20
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Street
9
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Court Street
10
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
9th Street
11
Turn right
115 ft
·
8 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over three and a half hours, this drive offers excellent flexibility. You can easily depart in the morning and arrive by lunchtime, or even leave in the afternoon. Plan for one significant stop, perhaps midway, to break up the 141-mile stretch on US 20. Given the relatively low fuel cost of $27, you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling, but it’s always wise to top off before leaving Belmond. Pay attention to the transition onto River Avenue South as you enter Sioux City.
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 85.9 miles from Belmond, IA, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 141 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 38 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.9 miles or 1h 48m 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 53m
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 Belmond, 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 Belmond, IA
This is one driving day of about 171.7 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Belmond, 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 US 20 for about 141 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.9 miles from Belmond, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 141 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 171.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Main Street
Turn right onto East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
28.8 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
169.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 27m in
|
South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
171.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
|
9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
171.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.84 one way
$53.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.47 | $58.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $33.04 | $66.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.91 | $75.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.5 | 0 | $18.03 | $8.24 |
| Efficient EV | 42.9 | 0 | $15.02 | $6.87 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.7 | 0 | $24.04 | $10.99 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
5:11 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
2 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 32m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a heavily highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major roads. The bulk of your travel, a continuous 141 miles, will be on US 20, presenting a consistent driving experience. This means you'll be on well-maintained, faster roads for the majority of the trip. While primarily a highway experience, keep an eye out for the transition as you approach Sioux City, where local roads like River Avenue South come into play.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 141 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and US 69. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Main Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Belmond, IA to Sioux City, IA is easy. At 3h 32m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.8 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.8 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Sioux City, IA
Full guide →Sioux City is on the western edge of the state of Iowa. It is on the Missouri River and many parts of Sioux City are among the unique Loess Hills formations.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 171.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 141 miles on US 20. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 28.8 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 169.8 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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