Spanning 221.9 miles across the Iowa landscape, this trip from Colfax to Sioux City is a straightforward journey typically taking about 4 hours and 4 minutes. You will spend almost the entire trip on major interstates, making this an efficient, highway-focused drive that is easily manageable as a single-day excursion. Budgeting approximately $34 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-way transit. Since the entire route remains within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you head toward the Missouri River border. It is a practical route for those prioritizing speed and reliability over winding backroads, and you will likely find that one well-timed stop is sufficient for the duration of the trip.
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
111 miles from Colfax, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
126.6 mi
2h 17m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
State Highway 117
0.9 mi
1m
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
9th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
North Walnut Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 126.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colfax, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on East Howard Street
55 ft·4 sec·East Howard Street
2
Turn right onto IA 117
0.1 mi·12 sec·North Walnut Street
3
Continue on IA 117
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 117
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
5
Merge onto I 80; US 6
25 mi·28 min·I 80; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi·6 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
10
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
12
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
14
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
17
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
18
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour drive, try to time your departure to avoid peak traffic hours near major interchanges. With only one recommended stop planned, look to break up the 126.6-mile stretch on I-80 to keep your energy levels high. Since this is a highway-intensive route, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during that long initial segment to ensure you stay within your $34 budget. Because the trip is short enough to handle in one day, you have the flexibility to adjust your start time based on your personal preferences. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to verify your route transitions between I-80 and I-29 before leaving, as these highway changes are the most critical navigation points on your map.
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 111 miles from Colfax, IA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 126.6 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 49 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 18m
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 Colfax, 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 Colfax, IA
This is one driving day of about 221.9 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Colfax, 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 I 80 for about 126.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 32.5 and 221.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
32.5 mi into trip|~37m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
9
128 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
144.6 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
6
220.7 mi into trip|~4h in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
221.4 mi into trip|~4h 2m in|6th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.69 one way
$69.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.09
$76.18
premium
$4.89
$42.70
$85.41
diesel
$5.61
$48.99
$97.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.6
0
$23.30
$10.65
Efficient EV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
EV Truck/SUV
88.8
1
$31.07
$14.20
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Colfax, IA
Late night
in Colfax on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
4:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Avoca, IA
111 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
23 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
4h 4m 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?
Expect a highly efficient transit, as 99% of this route is comprised of highway driving. You will navigate via I-80, I-880, and I-29, creating a fast-paced experience that favors interstate travel over local roads. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 126.6-mile stretch on I-80, which serves as the primary backbone of the journey. Because the route relies so heavily on these major arteries, the road maintains a very consistent personality throughout. You should be prepared for a focused, interstate-heavy drive where the focus remains squarely on steady miles and smooth transitions between major highway systems.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 126.6 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 32.5 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 221.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 221.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 126.6 miles on I 80. 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 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 32.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 128 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
