Harlan to Sioux City is 95.6 miles and takes about 2h 8m via State Highway 37 and I 29, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive entirely within the Midwest, connecting two points in Iowa. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this trip. Given its relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, this route is well-suited for a single-day journey, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.8 miles from Harlan, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 37
37.8 mi
51m
I 29
34.6 mi
37m
23rd Street
8.1 mi
11m
State Highway 175
7.4 mi
10m
Iowa Avenue
2.9 mi
6m
Cyclone Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
IA 37
0.6 mi
1m
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 37
— 37.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harlan, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Willow Street
55 ft·7 sec·Willow Street
2
Turn left onto 12th Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·12th Street
3
Turn left onto Cyclone Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Cyclone Avenue
4
Turn right onto US 59
8.1 mi·11 min·23rd Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto IA 37
3.5 mi·4 min·State Highway 37
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on IA 37
0.6 mi·1 min·Railway Street
7
Continue on IA 37
12 mi·16 min·State Highway 37
8
Continue on IA 37
0.1 mi·10 sec·IA 37
9
Continue on IA 37
0.9 mi·2 min·Iowa Avenue
10
Turn right onto US 30
0.2 mi·41 sec·North 6th Street
11
Turn left onto IA 37
0.6 mi·1 min·IA 37
12
Continue on IA 37
22 mi·30 min·State Highway 37
13
Continue on IA 175
6.8 mi·9 min·State Highway 175
14
Continue on IA 175
2.0 mi·4 min·Iowa Avenue
15
Continue on IA 175
0.6 mi·53 sec·State Highway 175
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
17
Merge onto I 29
35 mi·37 min·I 29
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
19
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
20
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
21
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
22
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
24
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
25
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 2.5 hours and a fuel cost estimated at $15, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. Since there are no specific stops noted, you have the flexibility to pull over as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 37.8-mile stretch on State Highway 37, as services might be less frequent compared to the interstate portions.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 47.8 miles from Harlan, IA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.8 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 21 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.8 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
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 Harlan, 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 Harlan, IA
This is one driving day of about 95.6 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Harlan, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 37 for about 37.8 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 95.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.3 mi into trip|~2m in|US 59 / 23rd Street
Turn right onto US 59 / 23rd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
9.4 mi into trip|~13m in|IA 37 / State Highway 37
Turn left onto IA 37 / State Highway 37
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
94 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
6
94.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
95.1 mi into trip|~2h 6m 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
$14.95 one way
$29.89 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$16.41
$32.82
premium
$4.89
$18.40
$36.79
diesel
$5.61
$21.11
$42.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.7
0
$10.04
$4.59
Efficient EV
23.9
0
$8.36
$3.82
EV Truck/SUV
38.2
0
$13.38
$6.12
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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 18, 2026
Origin
Harlan, IA
Late night
in Harlan on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Mostly Clear
NW 10 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Woodbine, IA
48 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
21 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
2h 8m 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 route is primarily a highway drive, with 84% of it utilizing major roads. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 37.8 miles on State Highway 37, offering a consistent pace before transitioning to interstate travel. The profile suggests a focus on efficient travel rather than winding backroads. Expect a blend of steady highway cruising and interstate speeds as you make your way north.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.8 mi on State Highway 37.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 37 and I 29. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near US 59 / 23rd Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 95.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (US 59 / 23rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (IA 37 / State Highway 37): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 95.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.8 miles on State Highway 37. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 1.3 miles (US 59 / 23rd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.4 miles (IA 37 / State Highway 37): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sioux City, IA before heading back.
