Crossing Iowa from Davenport to Sioux City covers 347.3 miles of Midwestern landscape. Expect to spend about 5 hours and 21 minutes behind the wheel for this journey, which is best handled as a single-day trip. Since the route avoids highways entirely, you will navigate through local roads like Marquette Street, West Locust Street, and Hickory Grove Road. Budgeting approximately $53 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. While the transit is straightforward, the turn-heavy nature of this path makes it a more engaged driving experience than a typical interstate trek.
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
182 miles from Davenport, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
197.5 mi
3h 33m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
US 6
64.9 mi
1h 11m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
West Kimberly Road
2.9 mi
4m
Hickory Grove Road
2.5 mi
5m
Marquette Street
1 mi
2m
West 4th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 197.5 mi, about 3h 33m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,933 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,316
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Davenport, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Marquette Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Marquette Street
3
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
0.5 mi·1 min·West Locust Street
4
Turn slight right onto US 6 Hist
2.5 mi·5 min·Hickory Grove Road
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·West Kimberly Road
6
Take the ramp onto US 6
65 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 6
7
Continue on I 80
102 mi·1 hr 51 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
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.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
11
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
13
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
14
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
15
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
16
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
18
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
19
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 21-minute duration, departing early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue on these local roads. Since you only have one planned stop, ensure you manage your fuel and rest breaks efficiently throughout the 347.3-mile trip. Because the route relies on local streets rather than major highways, stay alert for frequent turns and changing speed limits that could impact your arrival time. As a specific tip, keep a close watch on your GPS and road signage, as the turn-heavy nature of this path can be easy to miscalculate if you lose focus for even a moment.
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 182 miles from Davenport, IA, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 197.5 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 80 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182 miles or 3h 24m 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 36m
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 Davenport, 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 Davenport, IA
This is one driving day of about 363.9 miles and 6h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Davenport, 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 197.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 174.5 and 363.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
174.5 mi into trip|~3h 16m 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
270 mi into trip|~4h 59m 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
286.6 mi into trip|~5h 17m 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
362.7 mi into trip|~6h 40m in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
363.4 mi into trip|~6h 41m 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
$53.74 one way
$107.48 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$59.33
$118.65
premium
$4.72
$67.57
$135.13
diesel
$4.80
$68.71
$137.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.2
1
$38.21
$17.47
Efficient EV
91
1
$31.84
$14.56
EV Truck/SUV
145.6
1
$50.95
$23.29
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Davenport, IA
Evening
in Davenport on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
0 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Evening
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
8:26 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Clear
SSE 5 mph2% chanceLive 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
3 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
6h 43m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous highway cruise. Because the highway share is 0%, your steering wheel will see plenty of action as you navigate residential and local connectors. This route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, forcing you to maintain a steady pace through varying road conditions. You will find that the personality of the drive remains consistent, favoring local navigation over the speed of an interstate. It is a practical way to traverse the state if you prefer local roads over the predictability of major freeways.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 197.5 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 174.5 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 363.9 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 174.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Davenport is one of the Quad Cities, in Eastern Iowa. This Midwestern city on the bank of the Mississippi River has seen a great deal of action throughout history. Today Davenport offers visitors interesting museums, activities and culinary experiences. Being one of the Quad Cities, a side trip to another city is easily doable - just follow the color coded signs!
Top landmarks
•Sacred Heart Cathedral — cathedral church for the Catholic Diocese of Davenport
•Lock and Dam No. 15 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River between Rock Island, Illinois and Davenpor...
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.
Top landmarks
•Sergeant Floyd — museum boat in Sioux City, Iowa, United States
•Woodbury County Courthouse — county courthouse in Sioux City, United States of America
•St. Boniface Catholic Church — church building in Sioux City, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 43m. Total distance: 363.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 197.5 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 53 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 53 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 174.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 270 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 286.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.7 hours each way, a round trip means 13.5 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.
