Dubuque, IA to Orange City, IA is 318.4 miles and takes about 6h 24m via US 61 South, Locust Street Conn, and Dodge Street, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes surface roads, making it a more leisurely pace across the state. With a recommended one-day drive, you can comfortably complete this trip without needing an overnight stay. It's a straightforward path for those looking to cover ground efficiently within Iowa.
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
159.2 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
160.2 mi
3h 4m
Dodge Street
87 mi
1h 43m
Highway 20
19 mi
22m
State Highway 140
15.1 mi
20m
County Road L14
7 mi
9m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
Kiwi Avenue
5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 160.2 mi, about 3h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Orange City, 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
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
7
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
8
Continue on US 20
19 mi·22 min·Highway 20
9
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi·7 min·Lee Avenue
10
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi·2 min·Shamrock Avenue
11
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi·2 min·320th Street
12
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 140
13
Continue on L14
7.0 mi·9 min·County Road L14
14
Continue on L14
5.0 mi·6 min·Kiwi Avenue
15
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10
1.8 mi·2 min·460th Street
16
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi·24 sec·State Highway 10
17
Continue on IA 10
0.8 mi·1 min·Kennedy Avenue
18
Turn left onto IA 10
2.0 mi·2 min·450th Street
19
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
81 ft·4 sec·450th Street
20
Continue on 450th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·450th Street
21
Continue on IA 10
0.2 mi·37 sec·8th Street Southeast
22
Turn right onto Albany Avenue Southeast
0.7 mi·1 min·Albany Avenue Southeast
23
Turn left onto 2nd Street Northeast
430 ft·20 sec·2nd Street Northeast
24
Arrive at destination
2nd Street Northwest
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 24m estimated drive time, leaving Dubuque in the morning is your best bet to complete this 318.4-mile trip in one day. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, as there are no designated longer stretches. While the fuel cost is estimated around $50, it's always wise to have a little extra on hand. Pay attention to local speed limits on the surface roads, especially as you pass through smaller towns along US 61 South. The flexibility of a non-highway route means you can adjust your timing more easily if you encounter unexpected delays.
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 159.2 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.2 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 70 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.2 miles or 3h 7m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Orange City, 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 318.4 miles and 6h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 160.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 311.7 — 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
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
4
275.2 mi into trip|~5h 22m in|L21 / Lee Avenue
Turn right onto L21 / Lee Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
282.6 mi into trip|~5h 33m in|C66 / 320th Street
Turn left onto C66 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
5
311.7 mi into trip|~6h 13m in|IA 10 / 460th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.36 one way
$98.73 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$54.13
$108.26
premium
$4.93
$61.77
$123.55
diesel
$5.60
$70.19
$140.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.5
1
$33.43
$15.28
Efficient EV
79.6
0
$27.86
$12.74
EV Truck/SUV
127.4
1
$44.58
$20.38
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Wednesday
Local time
12:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Orange City, IA
Late night
in Orange City on Wednesday
Local time
12:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
65°F
Hampton, IA
159 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
3 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
6h 24m 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?
This route is characterized by its 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 318.4 miles. The drive involves navigating local streets and US highways, so be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds compared to interstate travel. You'll notice the transition from city driving in Dubuque, using Dodge Street and Locust Street Conn, to more open cruising on US 61 South. The longest stretch without a significant break is not specified, but the overall duration suggests a consistent pace on these non-highway segments.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 160.2 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 24m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 11 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 275.2 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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 160.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Orange 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. 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 87.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 275.2 miles (L21 / Lee Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.4 hours each way, a round trip means 12.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Orange City, IA before the return drive.
