This 197.7-mile drive from Grimes, IA to Dubuque, IA will take you about 3 hours and 58 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day road trip. You'll primarily navigate along roads like Lincoln Highway and Northeast Hubbell Road, with only about 16% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $31. Given its manageable length and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, you can easily complete this route in one day without needing an overnight stay. This journey stays within the Midwest region, offering a straightforward transition across Iowa.
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
98.9 miles from Grimes, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
200th Avenue
32.4 mi
37m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
Marion Airport Road
24.1 mi
27m
I 80
13 mi
14m
IA 100
9.4 mi
11m
US 151
6.2 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grimes, IA and Dubuque, IA.
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
14
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
16
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
17
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
18
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
19
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
20
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
21
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
22
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi·27 min·Marion Airport Road
23
Continue on US 151
32 mi·37 min·200th Avenue
24
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
25
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
27
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
28
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
29
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 1 day, 197.7-mile journey, consider an early morning departure from Grimes, IA, to maximize your daylight and flexibility. With a duration of under 4 hours, you won't need to split the drive, but planning for one stop around the halfway mark can help break up the 37-mile longest stretch on Lincoln Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $31, and local roads can sometimes be less predictable for gas availability than major highways. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to posted speed limits on the local roads, as they can vary significantly.
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 98.9 miles from Grimes, IA, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.9 miles or 1h 59m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dubuque, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grimes, 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 Grimes, IA
This is one driving day of about 197.7 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Grimes, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 197.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
13.3 mi into trip|~18m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
17.8 mi into trip|~23m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
6
197.3 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.91 one way
$61.82 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$33.94
$67.87
premium
$4.89
$38.05
$76.09
diesel
$5.61
$43.65
$87.30
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: 69.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.3
0
$20.76
$9.49
Efficient EV
49.4
0
$17.30
$7.91
EV Truck/SUV
79.1
0
$27.68
$12.65
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Grimes, IA
Night
in Grimes on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Night
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
S 10 to 20 mph79% 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
27 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 58m 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?
Expect a route that's more about navigation than speed, with a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. Only 16% of this 197.7-mile trip is on highways, meaning you'll encounter more local roads and intersections. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 37 miles along the Lincoln Highway, so be prepared for frequent changes in scenery and road conditions. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it's a drive that keeps you engaged with its varied path through Iowa.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 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 17 significant decision points across 197.7 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 3.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Grimes, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Marion.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 58m. Total distance: 197.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. 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.
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 Dubuque, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4 miles (I 80; I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Dubuque, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
