Dysart to Sioux City is 233.7 miles and takes about 4h 46m via Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a trip primarily on surface roads, making it a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a duration under 5 hours, it's a straightforward drive for a single day.
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
116.9 miles from Dysart, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
157.8 mi
3h 2m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
Hawkeye Road
10.9 mi
16m
State Highway 21
8 mi
11m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
58th Street
2.5 mi
3m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
6th Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 157.8 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dysart, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
65 ft·5 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto Wilson Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Wilson Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto IA 21
0.7 mi·1 min·Holsted Street
4
Turn left onto IA 8; IA 21
2.5 mi·3 min·58th Street
5
Turn right onto IA 21
8.0 mi·11 min·State Highway 21
6
Continue on IA 21
11 mi·16 min·Hawkeye Road
7
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 20 West, IA 27 North: Fort DodgeUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 20; IA 27
158 mi·3 hr 2 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
10
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
11
Continue on US 20
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
14
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
15
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
16
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
17
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this 233.7-mile drive can be completed in under 5 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to reach Sioux City with plenty of daylight. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Given the fuel cost estimate of $37, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the longer surface road sections where stations might be less frequent than on major highways. The longest stretch is 157.8 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before needing to refuel.
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 116.9 miles from Dysart, IA, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 157.8 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 51 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.9 miles or 2h 23m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dysart, 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 Dysart, IA
This is one driving day of about 233.7 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Dysart, 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 157.8 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 0.4 and 233.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 21 / Holsted Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 21 / Holsted Street
Navigation decision point
8
22.4 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 West, IA 27 North: Fort Dodge
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 20 West, IA 27 North: Fort Dodge
6
231.8 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
233.5 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
233.7 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.54 one way
$73.07 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$40.12
$80.23
premium
$4.89
$44.97
$89.95
diesel
$5.61
$51.60
$103.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70.1
0
$24.54
$11.22
Efficient EV
58.4
0
$20.45
$9.35
EV Truck/SUV
93.5
1
$32.72
$14.96
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Apr 21, 2026
Origin
Dysart, IA
Morning
in Dysart on Tuesday
Local time
7:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Morning
in Sioux City on Tuesday
Local time
7:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Jefferson, IA
117 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 46m 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?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 23% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a 157.8-mile stretch on Avenue of the Saints before transitioning to other roads. Expect to spend the majority of your time on local roads, which often means navigating through towns and encountering more varied speed limits. The shift from any highway segments to surface roads will be a noticeable change in pace.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 157.8 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 0.4 miles in near IA 21 / Holsted Street.
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 46m 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 0.4 miles (IA 21 / Holsted Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 231.8 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Sioux City is on the western edge of the state of Iowa. It is on the Missouri River and many parts of Sioux City are among the unique Loess Hills formations.
The longest stretch is about 157.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 0.4 miles (IA 21 / Holsted Street): Navigation decision point; at 22.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 231.8 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
