Granger, IA to Sioux City, IA is 202.4 miles and takes about 3h 44m via I 80, I 29, and I 880, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to its western edge. With 94% of the drive on highways, it's a straightforward trip primarily on major interstates. The recommended single day for this drive makes it convenient for a quick transit or a day trip.
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
101.2 miles from Granger, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
98.8 mi
1h 46m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
Northwest Granger Drive
2.8 mi
3m
Northwest 114th Street
2.6 mi
3m
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
1.8 mi
2m
Northeast Grimes Boulevard
1 mi
1m
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 46m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,583 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,923
Quietest
2 AM
~131 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 94 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 Granger, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Sycamore Street
0.3 mi·39 sec·Sycamore Street
2
Turn left onto IA 141
2.8 mi·3 min·Northwest Granger Drive
3
Continue on IA 141
2.6 mi·3 min·Northwest 114th Street
4
Continue on IA 141
1.0 mi·1 min·Northeast Grimes Boulevard
5
Continue on IA 141
0.6 mi·49 sec·Grimes Boulevard
6
Continue on IA 141
1.8 mi·2 min·Southeast Grimes Boulevard
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council BluffsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 80; I 35
3.3 mi·3 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
12
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
14
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
16
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
19
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
20
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under 4 hours, you can comfortably depart anytime in the morning and arrive in Sioux City by afternoon. There's one recommended stop, which is ample for a drive of this length, allowing for flexibility in when you choose to take a break. The estimated fuel cost of $27 suggests keeping an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 98.8-mile stretch on I 80, as services might be less frequent than in more urban areas. Because this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to pre-book overnight accommodations.
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 101.2 miles from Granger, IA, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 45 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.2 miles or 1h 52m 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 2m
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 Granger, 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 Granger, IA
This is one driving day of about 202.4 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Granger, 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 I 80 for about 98.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 9 and 201.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I-35 south, I-80 west: Kansas City, Coun...
7
12.9 mi into trip|~17m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
9
108.4 mi into trip|~2h in|I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
125.1 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
7
201.9 mi into trip|~3h 42m in|6th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.38 one way
$62.76 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$34.41
$68.82
premium
$4.93
$39.27
$78.54
diesel
$5.60
$44.62
$89.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
Efficient EV
50.6
0
$17.71
$8.10
EV Truck/SUV
81
1
$28.34
$12.95
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Aug 31, 2026
Origin
Granger, IA
Late night
in Granger on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SW 6 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 1:05PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 11:43AM CDT until September 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Friday
Local time
4:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Sunny
0 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 1:05PM CDT until September 3 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued August 31 at 11:43AM CDT until September 2 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
87°F
Avoca, IA
101 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
1 degrees cooler 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?
This drive is predominantly on highways, with 94% of the total mileage utilizing interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 98.8 miles on I 80 before transitioning to other major routes like I 29. Expect a consistent cruising experience with fewer surface road transitions, typical of a route dominated by interstate travel.
94% 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: 98.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 202.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.4 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Top landmarks
•Sergeant Floyd — museum boat in Sioux City, Iowa, United States
•Woodbury County Courthouse — county courthouse in Sioux City, United States of America
•St. Boniface Catholic Church — church building in Sioux City, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 202.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Sioux 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. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.4 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
