Elk Run Heights to Sioux City is 217 miles and takes about 4 hours 19 minutes via Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, beginning and ending in Iowa, and offers a turn-heavy local feel. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is a straightforward option for connecting these two Iowa communities. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct trip without extensive planning.
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
108.5 miles from Elk Run Heights, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
162.8 mi
3h 7m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
6th Street
0.9 mi
2m
South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
1m
Gilbertville Road
0.6 mi
1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 162.8 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Run Heights, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Gilbertville Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Gilbertville Road
2
Turn right onto Evansdale Drive
0.2 mi·22 sec·Evansdale Drive
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
4
Merge onto I 380; US 20; IA 27
2.5 mi·2 min·Avenue of the Saints
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
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
11
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
12
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
13
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
14
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip of just over 4 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Sioux City with daylight to spare. There's one recommended stop, so consider planning a break around the halfway point or during the longest stretch on Avenue of the Saints. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially when transitioning from highway to local roads, as services might be less frequent. The $34 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always monitor prices.
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 108.5 miles from Elk Run Heights, IA, or about 2h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 162.8 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 48 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.5 miles or 2h 6m 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 27m
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 Elk Run Heights, 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 Elk Run Heights, IA
This is one driving day of about 217 miles and 4h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Elk Run Heights, 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 162.8 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 217 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Evansdale Drive
Turn right onto Evansdale Drive
Navigation decision point
4
3.7 mi into trip|~5m 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
6
215.1 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
216.8 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
217 mi into trip|~4h 18m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.93 one way
$67.85 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.25
$74.50
premium
$4.89
$41.76
$83.52
diesel
$5.61
$47.91
$95.82
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.1
0
$22.78
$10.42
Efficient EV
54.3
0
$18.99
$8.68
EV Truck/SUV
86.8
1
$30.38
$13.89
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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 15, 2026
Origin
Elk Run Heights, IA
Morning
in Elk Run Heights on Sunday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Morning
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
74°F
Jefferson, IA
109 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 19m 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 characterized as a turn-heavy local drive, with only 21% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a mix of road types, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 162.8 miles on Avenue of the Saints, offering a more consistent segment before you navigate local roads. Expect to engage with the road more actively due to the numerous turns involved in this 217-mile trip.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 162.8 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 0.6 miles in near Evansdale Drive.
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 19m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Evansdale Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 215.1 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 162.8 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.
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 0.6 miles (Evansdale Drive): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 215.1 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
