Hiawatha, IA to Sioux City, IA is 260.6 miles and takes about 5h 6m via Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace. Given the relatively short driving time and the single-day recommendation, this route is a straightforward option for getting between these two points in Iowa.
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
130.3 miles from Hiawatha, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
206.9 mi
3h 55m
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
Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.3 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 206.9 mi, about 3h 55m
Traffic on I-380
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,112 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,382
Quietest
2 AM
~75 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Hiawatha, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Heefner Street
174 ft·9 sec·Heefner Street
2
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
395 ft·24 sec·9th Avenue
3
Turn left onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.3 mi·51 sec·Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
4
Turn left
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: WaterlooUse the straight / left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
47 mi·50 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
8
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
9
Continue on US 20
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
12
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
13
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
14
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a 5-hour drive time, this route is definitely manageable in a single day. Aim to leave in the morning to give yourself ample time and flexibility. The longest stretch is over 200 miles, so plan for at least one stop for fuel and a break before you reach that point. Since a significant portion of the drive is on surface roads, be mindful of posted speed limits and potential for slower traffic. Your fuel cost is estimated at $40, which is a good benchmark for budgeting this trip.
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 130.3 miles from Hiawatha, IA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 206.9 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 57 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.3 miles or 2h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 4m
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 Hiawatha, 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 Hiawatha, IA
This is one driving day of about 260.6 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Hiawatha, 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 206.9 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 260.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|9th Avenue
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in
Turn left toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
6
258.7 mi into trip|~5h 1m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
260.4 mi into trip|~5h 5m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
260.6 mi into trip|~5h 6m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.47 one way
$86.94 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$47.25
$94.49
premium
$5.26
$53.96
$107.91
diesel
$6.18
$63.40
$126.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.2
0
$27.36
$12.51
Efficient EV
65.2
0
$22.80
$10.42
EV Truck/SUV
104.2
1
$36.48
$16.68
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Hiawatha, IA
Morning
in Hiawatha on Saturday
Local time
6:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Chance Rain Showers then Cloudy
NW 15 to 25 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Morning
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
6:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
NNW 10 to 20 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:12AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued October 16 at 3:47AM CDT until October 17 at 8:00AM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
73°F
Hampton, IA
130 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 6m 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 drive is mostly surface roads, with only 17% of the total mileage on highways. You'll encounter your longest stretch of uninterrupted driving on Avenue of the Saints, covering 206.9 miles. After that section, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. The prevalence of surface roads suggests you'll be navigating through more rural areas and potentially passing through smaller towns.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 206.9 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 early in the drive near 9th Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 6m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 258.7 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.
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
The longest stretch is about 206.9 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 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.
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 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 258.7 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sioux City, IA before the return drive.
