Dubuque, IA to Pleasant Hill, IA is 185.6 miles and takes about 3h 44m via US 151 and Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, taking you across Iowa on a mix of highways and surface roads. With only one recommended stop and a short drive time, it's a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in a single day. The route is efficient, aiming to get you to your destination without unnecessary detours.
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
92.8 miles from Dubuque, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
58.1 mi
1h 7m
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi
43m
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 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
34th Avenue Southwest
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 58.1 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque, IA and Pleasant Hill, 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
37 mi·43 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
12
Turn left onto IA 330
34 mi·39 min·Marshalltown Boulevard
13
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
14
Continue on US 6
0.5 mi·52 sec·Hubbell Avenue
15
Turn left onto 34th Avenue Southwest
1.6 mi·2 min·34th Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
16
Continue on East 56th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East 56th Street
17
Continue on Northeast 56th Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Northeast 56th Street
18
Turn right onto Northeast 12th Avenue
0.9 mi·1 min·Northeast 12th Avenue
19
Continue on North Pleasant Hill Boulevard
1.1 mi·2 min·North Pleasant Hill Boulevard
20
Turn left onto Doanes Park Road
62 ft·4 sec·Doanes Park Road
21
Arrive at destination
Doanes Park Road
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning allows ample time to reach Pleasant Hill, IA before evening. Plan for one stop to break up the 185.6 miles; the longest stretch without a major road change is 58.1 miles on US 151, which could be a good point for a quick break. The fuel cost is estimated at $33, so factor that into your budget. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but aim to start earlier to avoid any potential delays on the surface road portions.
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 92.8 miles from Dubuque, IA, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.1 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 92.8 miles or 1h 51m 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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pleasant Hill, 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 185.6 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 US 151 for about 58.1 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 179.8 — 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...
5
144.1 mi into trip|~2h 50m in
Take the exit toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines
4
179.8 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|34th Avenue Southwest
Turn left onto 34th Avenue Southwest
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.43 one way
$64.86 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.80
$35.09
$70.18
premium
$5.37
$39.23
$78.46
diesel
$5.52
$40.36
$80.71
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 64.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-05-25.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.7
0
$19.49
$8.91
Efficient EV
46.4
0
$16.24
$7.42
EV Truck/SUV
74.2
0
$25.98
$11.88
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Jun 3, 2026
Origin
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon
in Dubuque on Wednesday
Local time
3:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pleasant Hill, IA
Afternoon
in Pleasant Hill on Wednesday
Local time
3:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Sunny
S 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
1 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?
You'll spend about 43% of this 185.6-mile drive on highways, meaning a good portion will be on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 58.1 miles on US 151. Expect a mixed driving experience, transitioning from more open highway cruising to navigating through towns and rural areas. The route profile indicates a blend of highway and surface driving, so be prepared for varying speed limits and traffic patterns.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.1 mi on US 151.
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 3h 44m drive. You will face about 10 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
1,057 ft623 ft
Total Climb
768 ft
Total Descent
527 ft
Highest Point
1,057 ft
~13.3 mi in
Elevation Range
435 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 Pleasant Hill, IA, road signs point toward Marshalltown and Des Moines.
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
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.1 miles on US 151. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 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 Pleasant Hill, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
