Dubuque to Fort Dodge is 187.7 miles and takes about 3h 44m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Iowa. Since it's primarily surface roads, expect a more scenic and less hurried pace than a highway trip. With only one recommended stop and a fairly short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost of $29 makes it an economical choice for your travels.
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
93.8 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
94.5 mi
1h 49m
Dodge Street
87 mi
1h 43m
8th Avenue South
1 mi
2m
Mill Road
1 mi
1m
Quail Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Paragon Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Nelson Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
South 32nd Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 94.5 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Fort Dodge, IA.
1
Start on Central Avenue
0.2 mi·33 sec·Central Avenue
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward US 61 South, US 151 South
3
Turn right onto IA 946
0.2 mi·36 sec·Locust Street Conn
4
Turn right onto US 20
87 mi·1 hr 43 min·Dodge Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
94 mi·1 hr 49 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit onto US 20 Business
0.3 mi·48 sec·US 20 Business
7
Turn right onto US 20 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·Nelson Avenue
8
Continue on US 20 Business
0.8 mi·1 min·Quail Avenue
9
Turn left onto 220th Street
0.5 mi·47 sec·220th Street
10
Continue on Mill Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Mill Road
11
Continue on Paragon Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Paragon Avenue
12
Continue on South 32nd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South 32nd Street
13
Turn left onto 8th Avenue South
1.0 mi·2 min·8th Avenue South
14
Arrive at destination
8th Avenue South
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m drive time and 187.7-mile distance, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to allow for flexibility with your single recommended stop. The $29 fuel budget is an estimate, so check current prices before you leave Dubuque. Pay attention to local speed limits, as you'll be on surface roads for the entire duration. The 94.5-mile stretch on Avenue of the Saints means you'll have a long, consistent section of driving, so ensure you're comfortable with that pacing.
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 93.8 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.5 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 41 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.8 miles or 1h 52m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Dodge, 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 187.7 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 94.5 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 186.7 — 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
3
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 946 / Locust Street Conn
Turn right onto IA 946 / Locust Street Conn
Navigation decision point
4
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 45m 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
3
182.2 mi into trip|~3h 34m in|US 20 Business
Take the exit onto US 20 Business
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
186.7 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|8th Avenue South
Turn left onto 8th Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.21 one way
$62.41 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$33.99
$67.99
premium
$5.18
$38.30
$76.60
diesel
$5.35
$39.54
$79.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.3
0
$19.71
$9.01
Efficient EV
46.9
0
$16.42
$7.51
EV Truck/SUV
75.1
0
$26.28
$12.01
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon
in Dubuque on Wednesday
Local time
3:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 to 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 30 at 9:23PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Fort Dodge, IA
Afternoon
in Fort Dodge on Wednesday
Local time
3:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
ESE 13 mph27% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued May 30 at 9:23PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
4 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 44m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 route is almost entirely surface roads, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating local routes for the full 187.7 miles. The longest continuous stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 94.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. Be prepared for a more urban feel initially, transitioning to more rural cruising as you progress.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.5 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Fort Dodge, IA is easy. At 3h 44m with 0% 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 0.4 miles (IA 946 / Locust Street Conn): Navigation decision point; at 87.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Top landmarks
•St. Raphael's Cathedral — church in Dubuque, Iowa
•Lock and Dam No. 11 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River located between Dubuque, Iowa and rural Gr...
•Julien Dubuque Bridge — bridge in Illinois and Iowa, U.S
Fort Dodge is a city of 25,000 people (2020) in North Central Iowa on the Des Moines River. Fort Dodge is a major commercial center for North Central and Northwest Iowa.
The longest stretch is about 94.5 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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.
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 0.4 miles (IA 946 / Locust Street Conn): Navigation decision point; at 87.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Fort Dodge, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
