Dubuque, IA to Pella, IA is 183 miles and takes about 3h 36m via US 151 and I 80, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa for its entirety. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable distance, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. You'll primarily be on major arteries, making it an efficient way to get from point A to point B without much fuss. Plan for a smooth ride with minimal complex navigation.
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
91.5 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
64.9 mi
1h 16m
I 80
64.8 mi
1h 9m
Avenue of the Saints
15.8 mi
17m
Highway T14 South
11.5 mi
15m
Highway T22 South
7.2 mi
10m
Lincoln Freeway
6.4 mi
7m
US 61
5.6 mi
7m
Highway F62 East
3.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 64.9 mi, about 1h 16m
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
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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 Pella, 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
65 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 80
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward IA 224: Kellogg, Sully
14
Turn left onto IA 224
0.1 mi·12 sec·County Highway T22
15
Continue on Highway T22 South
5.1 mi·7 min·Highway T22 South
16
Continue on CR T22
2.1 mi·3 min·Highway T22 South
17
Turn right onto CR F62
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway F62 East
18
At end of road, turn left onto CR T14
11 mi·15 min·Highway T14 South
19
Continue on CR T14
1.6 mi·2 min·Main Street
20
Turn left onto Washington Street
40 ft·1 sec·Washington Street
21
Arrive at destination
Washington Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 4 hours, you have flexibility for when you depart, but leaving in the morning allows for a relaxed pace. The route has only one recommended stop, so consider your fuel and rest needs before you leave Dubuque. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 64.9-mile stretch on US 151. The estimated fuel cost of $28 is a good baseline, but actual prices may vary. Since this is a short, single-day trip, you can easily adjust your schedule based on traffic or personal preference.
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 91.5 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.9 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 40 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 91.5 miles or 1h 47m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pella, 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 183 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 151 for about 64.9 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 159 — 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
5
159 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward IA 224: Kellogg, Sully
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 224: Kellogg, Sully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.37 one way
$56.74 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$31.11
$62.22
premium
$4.93
$35.50
$71.01
diesel
$5.60
$40.34
$80.68
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: 64 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.78
Efficient EV
45.8
0
$16.01
$7.32
EV Truck/SUV
73.2
0
$25.62
$11.71
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Sep 2, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Morning
in Dubuque on Friday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy then Patchy Fog
S 5 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 10:48PM CDT until September 1 at 11:45PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 10:43PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Pella, IA
Morning
in Pella on Friday
Local time
6:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
S 7 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued September 1 at 10:48PM CDT until September 1 at 11:45PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 10:43PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM 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 36m 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 drive is predominantly highway, with 77% of the 183 miles on major roads like US 151 and I 80. You'll experience a stretch of 64.9 miles on US 151 before transitioning to other routes. Expect consistent cruising speeds for most of your travel. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you approach your destination, signaling the end of the higher-speed portions of the trip.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.9 mi on US 151.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 and I 80. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 183 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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
1,076 ft623 ft
Total Climb
788 ft
Total Descent
525 ft
Highest Point
1,076 ft
~13.1 mi in
Elevation Range
453 ft
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 Pella, IA, road signs point toward Airport and Sully.
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 36m. Total distance: 183 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.9 miles on US 151. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 17 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.
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 Pella, 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. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Pella, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
