Origin
Clinton, IA
Night in Clinton on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, IA to Dubuque, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
71.6 mi
115 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Dubuque, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling north from Clinton to Dubuque is a straightforward journey spanning 71.6 miles through the heart of the Midwest. You can expect the drive to take approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stop. Budgeting about $11 for fuel will cover your transit, which relies heavily on US 61, Lincoln Way, and US 30. Because the trip is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. Whether you are heading out for business or leisure, this route offers a predictable and efficient way to navigate between these two Iowa cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 61 | 47.2 mi | 56m |
| Lincoln Way | 16.3 mi | 19m |
| US 30 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| Manufacturing Drive | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Bluff Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 2nd Avenue South | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| White Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 7th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 47.2 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue South
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue South
2
Turn left onto South Bluff Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Bluff Boulevard
3
Turn straight onto Manufacturing Drive
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Manufacturing Drive
4
Turn right onto US 30
16 mi
·
19 min
·
Lincoln Way
5
Take the exit onto US 30
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US 30
6
Continue on US 61
46 mi
·
54 min
·
US 61
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
US 61; US 151
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 189A
Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
9
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
White Street
10
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft
·
19 sec
·
East 7th Street
11
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
Central Avenue
12
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Clinton, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 65 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 71.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 30 / Lincoln Way
Turn right onto US 30 / Lincoln Way
Navigation decision point
4
70.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
US 61; US 151
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
71.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m 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
71.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
71.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
|
Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.19 one way
$22.39 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.29 | $24.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.78 | $27.56 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.81 | $31.62 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.52 | $3.44 |
| Efficient EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.26 | $2.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.6 | 0 | $10.02 | $4.58 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Dubuque, IA
Night in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
9:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
1h 28m 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?
This highway-focused drive is defined by a significant 71% highway share, favoring steady speeds over technical maneuvering. Your time behind the wheel will be dominated by a 47.2-mile stretch on US 61, which serves as the backbone of your journey. You will transition through a mix of arterial roads and main highways that keep the pace consistent. The personality of the road is functional and direct, providing a reliable connection between the two points without unnecessary complexity. Expect a steady, predictable experience as you cruise through the Iowa landscape on these primary thoroughfares.
71% 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: 47.2 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and Lincoln Way. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near US 30 / Lincoln Way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 28m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles (US 61; US 151): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Clinton, IA
Full guide →Clinton is a city in Eastern Iowa.
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 1h 28m. Total distance: 71.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.2 miles on US 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (US 30 / Lincoln Way): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles (US 61; US 151): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dubuque, IA before heading back.
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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