Cascade, IA to Sioux City, IA is 289.9 miles and takes about 5h 45m via Avenue of the Saints and US 20, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive traverses the heart of the Midwest, staying within Iowa for its entirety. You'll experience a mixed drive profile, offering a good balance of highway speeds and more local road conditions. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is well-suited for a straightforward journey between these two points, making it a practical option for getting across the state.
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
145 miles from Cascade, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
160.2 mi
3h 4m
US 20
61.4 mi
1h 10m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
State Highway 136
13.2 mi
18m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
6th Street
0.9 mi
2m
1st Street South
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 160.2 mi, about 3h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cascade, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on US 151 Business
378 ft·9 sec·1st Avenue West
2
Turn right onto IA 136
0.4 mi·32 sec·Johnson Street Northwest
3
Continue on IA 136
8.8 mi·11 min·State Highway 136
4
Continue on IA 136
0.7 mi·1 min·1st Street South
5
Continue on IA 136
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 136
6
Continue on IA 136
0.5 mi·45 sec·9th Street Southeast
7
Take the ramp onto US 52
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 52
8
Merge onto US 20
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·US 20
9
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
11
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
12
Continue on US 20
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
15
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
16
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
17
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Aim to depart Cascade in the morning to take full advantage of the 5h 45m estimated drive time, allowing for potential stops. The longest uninterrupted stretch is over 160 miles, so plan your first break accordingly. With a total fuel cost estimated around $45, it's a budget-friendly trip. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading into longer stretches on the Avenue of the Saints, as services might be less frequent. This is a manageable one-day drive, so you have flexibility for an early start or a leisurely pace.
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 145 miles from Cascade, IA, or about 2h 50m 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 64 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 38m
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 Cascade, 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 Cascade, IA
This is one driving day of about 289.9 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Cascade, 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 76.6 and 289.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
76.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
288 mi into trip|~5h 40m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
289.5 mi into trip|~5h 44m in|Court Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
5
289.7 mi into trip|~5h 44m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
289.9 mi into trip|~5h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.32 one way
$90.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.76
$99.52
premium
$4.89
$55.79
$111.58
diesel
$5.61
$64.01
$128.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87
1
$30.44
$13.92
Efficient EV
72.5
0
$25.37
$11.60
EV Truck/SUV
116
1
$40.59
$18.55
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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
Cascade, IA
Evening
in Cascade on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Evening
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Nevada, IA
145 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
1 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
5h 45m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 trip features a mixed drive profile, with 41% of the journey on highways. You'll cover a significant 160.2 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, likely providing a more consistent pace. The remainder of the route will shift between this main artery and US 20 (also known as Highway 20), suggesting a varied driving experience. Expect stretches where you can maintain highway speeds, interspersed with sections that might feel more like navigating through towns or rural landscapes. It's not a monotonous interstate grind, but rather a blend that keeps things interesting.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 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?
3/10
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 76.6 miles in near US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 45m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 76.6 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 288 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 289.5 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 289.9 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.
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 76.6 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 288 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 289.5 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 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.
