Dubuque to Newton is 167.7 miles and takes about 3h 14m via US 151 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, crossing from one part of Iowa to another. With a high percentage of highway driving, it's a straightforward trip for anyone looking to cover ground efficiently between these two cities. Given the relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, making it easy to plan without an overnight stay.
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
83.9 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
69.7 mi
1h 14m
US 151
64.9 mi
1h 16m
Avenue of the Saints
15.8 mi
17m
Lincoln Freeway
6.4 mi
7m
US 61
5.6 mi
7m
South 13th Avenue East
1.5 mi
2m
East 12th Street South
0.7 mi
1m
Iowa Speedway Drive
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 69.7 mi, about 1h 14m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,013 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,432
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 101 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 Dubuque, IA and Newton, 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
7.5 mi·9 min·US 151; IA 13
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 151
0.4 mi·38 sec·US 151
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South: Cedar Rapids
7
Merge onto US 30; US 151
6.4 mi·7 min·Lincoln Freeway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
9
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
16 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
12
Merge onto I 80
70 mi·1 hr 14 min·I 80
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward NewtonUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft·6 sec
15
Turn straight onto Iowa Speedway Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Iowa Speedway Drive
16
Turn left onto South 13th Avenue East
1.5 mi·2 min·South 13th Avenue East
17
Turn right onto CR S74
0.7 mi·1 min·East 12th Street South
18
Turn left onto US 6
0.5 mi·1 min·1st Avenue East
19
Arrive at destination
US 6
Trip Plan
This 3h 14m drive is easily manageable in a single day, so consider leaving in the morning to allow for a relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to take a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $27, so ensure your tank is full before departing Dubuque or plan a refill along I 80. Watch for the transition from US 151 to I 80, as this is a key point where the driving environment changes to a higher-speed interstate.
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 83.9 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.7 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.9 miles or 1h 39m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Newton, 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 167.7 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 I 80 for about 69.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 163.9 — 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
6
70.4 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|US 151
Keep slight right at fork onto US 151 toward US 30 West, US 151 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 30 West, US 151 South: Cedar Rapids
5
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South: Iowa City, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, US 218 South, IA 27 South:...
5
93.5 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Des Moines
6
163.9 mi into trip|~3h 6m in
Take the exit toward Newton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Newton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.97 one way
$55.95 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$30.40
$60.81
premium
$5.26
$34.72
$69.44
diesel
$6.18
$40.80
$81.59
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.3
0
$17.61
$8.05
Efficient EV
41.9
0
$14.67
$6.71
EV Truck/SUV
67.1
0
$23.48
$10.73
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Monday
Local time
6:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SW 0 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Newton, IA
Morning
in Newton on Monday
Local time
6:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SSW 1 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:49AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
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
3h 14m 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?
You'll spend most of your time on the highway, with 87% of the 167.7-mile trip on major roads like US 151 and I 80. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 69.7 miles, which will be on I 80. Expect a fairly uninterrupted drive until you approach Newton, where the highway will transition to more local roads and exits. The profile is described as mostly highway, indicating a consistent driving experience with fewer turns and stops for much of the route.
87% 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: 69.7 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 151. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 167.7 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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles (US 151): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,070 ft623 ft
Total Climb
782 ft
Total Descent
454 ft
Highest Point
1,070 ft
~12 mi in
Elevation Range
448 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 Newton, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Airport 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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 167.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 69.7 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 Newton, 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 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles (US 151): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Newton, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
