Spanning 151.8 miles through the heart of Iowa, this trip from Dubuque to Burlington is a straightforward trek that takes approximately three hours of driving time. Because the route is relatively compact, it serves as an excellent one-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget about $23 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. The journey keeps you entirely within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you traverse from the northern part of the state down to the southeast. It is a practical and efficient option for travelers looking to navigate the state without an overly taxing schedule.
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
75.9 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 30m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
77.4 mi
1h 32m
James L Hodges Avenue
25.3 mi
30m
140th Street
20.3 mi
22m
Grandview Avenue
18 mi
20m
Douglas King Memorial Expressway
7.2 mi
8m
Sunnyside Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Osborn Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Central Avenue
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 77.4 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Burlington, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 189AToward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Continue on US 61; US 151
65 mi·1 hr 16 min·US 61; US 151
4
Take the exit onto US 61
5.3 mi·6 min·US 61
5
Take the exit onto US 61
6.6 mi·7 min·US 61
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
6
Take the exit onto US 61
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 61
Toward US 61 South: West River Drive, Muscatine
7
Turn right onto US 61
0.2 mi·15 sec·West River Drive
8
Continue on US 61
20 mi·22 min·140th Street
9
Continue on US 61; IA 22; IA 92
7.2 mi·8 min·Douglas King Memorial Expressway
10
Turn right onto US 61; IA 92
18 mi·20 min·Grandview Avenue
11
Continue on US 61
25 mi·30 min·James L Hodges Avenue
12
Turn left onto Sunnyside Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·Sunnyside Avenue
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Osborn Street
0.9 mi·1 min·Osborn Street
14
Turn right onto North Central Avenue
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Central Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
South Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Planning for this trip is simple thanks to the manageable three-hour duration, which provides plenty of flexibility for your departure time. Since the route includes at least one planned stop, you can easily pace your drive to avoid fatigue. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when transitioning off the main highway onto 140th Street, as service availability can fluctuate compared to the primary US 61 corridor. If you prefer a relaxed pace, treat this as a leisurely day trip to enjoy the changing scenery of the Iowa landscape. By keeping your $23 fuel budget in mind, you can focus on navigating the mix of roads with ease and confidence.
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 75.9 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.4 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 33 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 1h 30m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burlington, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dubuque, 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 Dubuque, IA
This is one driving day of about 151.8 miles and 3h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Dubuque, 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 61 for about 77.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 148.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 South, US 151 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward US 61 South, US 151 South
5
70.9 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|US 61
Take the exit onto US 61 toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock...
5
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|US 61
Take the exit onto US 61 toward US 61 South: West River Drive, Muscatine
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 61 South: West River Drive, Muscatine
4
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|US 61 / West River Drive
Turn right onto US 61 / West River Drive
Navigation decision point
5
148.7 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|Sunnyside Avenue
Turn left onto Sunnyside Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.73 one way
$47.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.06
$52.11
premium
$4.89
$29.21
$58.43
diesel
$5.61
$33.52
$67.03
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.94
$7.29
Efficient EV
38
0
$13.28
$6.07
EV Truck/SUV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Burlington, IA
Late night
in Burlington on Sunday
Local time
1:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Andalusia, IL
76 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
6 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 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed efficiency with local road navigation. You will spend roughly 56% of your time on highways, with US 61 serving as the backbone of your journey. The longest uninterrupted portion of the trip is a 77.4-mile stretch along US 61, where you can settle into a steady pace. Transitioning away from the main highway, you will navigate segments of James L Hodges Avenue and 140th Street to round out the 151.8-mile total. The road changes personality as you move between these arterial routes, shifting from faster highway speeds to the more measured pace of local thoroughfares.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.4 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Dubuque, IA to Burlington, IA is easy. At 3h with 56% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.9 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.5 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dubuque, IA and Burlington, IA, road signs point toward Moline and Muscatine.
Dubuque, founded in 1833, is the oldest city in Iowa. A port on the upper Mississippi River, it is situated along scenic bluffs facing the river, and has its roots in a mining and trading settlement established in the area by Quebec-born entrepreneur Julien Dubuque in 1788. The city's population is 57,686 (2000 Census), and the estimated population of the Dubuque metropolitan area is 93,072.
The longest stretch is about 77.4 miles on US 61. 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: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.9 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.5 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Burlington, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
