Dubuque, IA to Jefferson, IA is 216.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m via Lincoln Highway and US 151, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa for its entirety. Expect a mix of highway and surface road driving, making for a straightforward, single-day excursion. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit between these two Iowa cities.
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
108.3 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
78.3 mi
1h 30m
US 151
58.1 mi
1h 7m
220th Street
30.1 mi
39m
73rd Street
24.4 mi
28m
IA 100
15.2 mi
18m
US 61
5.6 mi
7m
16th Avenue Southwest
2.4 mi
2m
North Elm Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 78.3 mi, about 1h 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Jefferson, 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
5.6 mi·7 min·US 61; US 151
4
Take the exit onto US 151
57 mi·1 hr 6 min·US 151
5
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
6
Turn right onto IA 100
15 mi·18 min·IA 100
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
8
Merge onto US 30; US 218
2.4 mi·2 min·16th Avenue Southwest
9
Continue on US 30; US 218
24 mi·28 min·73rd Street
10
Continue on US 30
78 mi·1 hr 30 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Continue on US 30
30 mi·39 min·220th Street
12
Turn left onto IA 4
1.3 mi·2 min·North Elm Street
13
Turn right onto West Lincolnway Street
22 ft·0 sec·West Lincolnway Street
14
Arrive at destination
West Lincolnway Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 20m estimated drive time, departing in the morning from Dubuque will comfortably get you to Jefferson before evening. The route is a manageable 216.6 miles, allowing for a single stop without feeling rushed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 78.3-mile stretch on the Lincoln Highway, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $32 is a good planning point. Since this is a one-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your morning activities in Dubuque.
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 108.3 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 78.3 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.3 miles or 2h 9m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jefferson, 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 216.6 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 Lincoln Highway for about 78.3 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 216.6 — 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
4
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|IA 100
Turn right onto IA 100
Navigation decision point
5
79.3 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshall...
4
215.3 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|IA 4 / North Elm Street
Turn left onto IA 4 / North Elm Street
Navigation decision point
4
216.6 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|West Lincolnway Street
Turn right onto West Lincolnway Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.13 one way
$72.26 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.27
$78.54
premium
$5.26
$44.85
$89.69
diesel
$6.18
$52.69
$105.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65
0
$22.74
$10.40
Efficient EV
54.2
0
$18.95
$8.66
EV Truck/SUV
86.6
1
$30.32
$13.86
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Monday
Local time
8:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jefferson, IA
Morning
in Jefferson on Monday
Local time
8:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 9 to 14 mph0% chanceLive forecast
70°F
Fairfax, IA
108 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
2 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
4h 20m 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?
About 36% of this 216.6-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter your longest stretch of continuous driving, 78.3 miles, on the Lincoln Highway before transitioning to US 151 and other surface roads. This mix means you'll experience periods of faster highway cruising followed by slower travel through towns and rural areas. The profile is mixed highway & surface, so be prepared for changes in speed and road conditions.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 78.3 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.1 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point; at 79.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,139 ft623 ft
Total Climb
932 ft
Total Descent
487 ft
Highest Point
1,139 ft
~185.7 mi in
Elevation Range
516 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dubuque, IA to Jefferson, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marshalltown along the way.
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
The longest stretch is about 78.3 miles on Lincoln Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 4 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 64.1 miles (IA 100): Navigation decision point; at 79.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Jefferson, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
