Indiana, IA to Dubuque, IA is 200.1 miles and takes about 4h 8m via I 80 and US 151, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Iowa. Given its manageable length and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward drive suitable for a single day. You'll find this route offers a practical way to connect these two points without significant detours. Plan for a quick and efficient transit between your starting and ending locations.
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
100 miles from Indiana, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
81.4 mi
1h 27m
US 151
49.7 mi
58m
State Highway 14
23.3 mi
34m
State Highway 1
15.5 mi
21m
Highway 1 Northeast
10.7 mi
14m
IA 5
7.6 mi
11m
South Lincoln Street
2.2 mi
3m
County Highway G76
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 81.4 mi, about 1h 27m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,013 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,432
Quietest
2 AM
~148 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 101 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 Indiana, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on CR G76
1.9 mi·3 min·County Highway G76
2
Continue on CR G76
0.2 mi·26 sec·County Highway G76
3
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
6.1 mi·9 min·IA 5
4
Take the ramp onto IA 5
1.5 mi·1 min·IA 5
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
6
Turn right onto IA 14
2.2 mi·3 min·South Lincoln Street
7
Continue on IA 14
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
8
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·South Monroe Street
9
Continue on IA 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
11
Merge onto I 80
81 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 80
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
13
Turn left onto IA 1
0.7 mi·1 min·North Dodge Street
14
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi·10 min·Highway 1 Northeast
15
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi·2 min·South Market Street
16
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1 Northeast
17
Continue on IA 1
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 1
18
Enter roundabout onto IA 1
132 ft·5 sec·State Highway 1
19
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi·18 sec·State Highway 1
20
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Avenue South
21
Continue on IA 1
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 1
22
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
23
Merge onto US 151
45 mi·51 min·US 151
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 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize your daylight and arrive with plenty of time. Since the total duration is under 5 hours, you can comfortably complete it in one day without needing an overnight stop. The $31 fuel cost is a reasonable estimate, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on I 80, as services can be spaced out. Consider a quick stop around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary.
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 100 miles from Indiana, IA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.4 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 44 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100 miles or 2h 4m 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 25m
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 Indiana, 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 Indiana, IA
This is one driving day of about 200.1 miles and 4h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Indiana, 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 81.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 200.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2 mi into trip|~3m in|IA 5
Turn sharp left onto IA 5
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
136.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
199.6 mi into trip|~4h 7m 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
5
200 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
200.1 mi into trip|~4h 8m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.02 one way
$62.05 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$34.02
$68.03
premium
$4.93
$38.82
$77.65
diesel
$5.60
$44.11
$88.22
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 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.01
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
1
$28.01
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 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 Aug 23, 2026
Origin
Indiana, IA
Afternoon
in Indiana on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon
in Dubuque on Wednesday
Local time
4:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Clear
NW 0 to 5 mph0% 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
2 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
4h 8m 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 predominantly on highways, with 95% of the route utilizing them. You'll experience 81.4 miles on I 80 as the longest stretch before transitioning to other main roads. Expect to encounter a dense pattern of exits and merges as you navigate these primary arteries. The final portion will involve state highways, offering a change from the interstate cruising.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.4 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and US 151. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near IA 5.
Driving Effort6/10
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 200.1 miles you will encounter 16 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 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 136.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 199.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Indiana is a state in the heart of the Midwest region of the United States. Indiana is more than a fly-over state with one large metropolitan area, rural farmland, and cozy college towns.
Top landmarks
•Wyandotte Caves — park and its caverns in southern Indiana
•Eskenazi Museum of Art — museum at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana
•Miller House and Garden — historic home in Columbus, Indiana
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.
Top landmarks
•St. Raphael's Cathedral — church in Dubuque, Iowa
•Lock and Dam No. 11 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River located between Dubuque, Iowa and rural Gr...
•Julien Dubuque Bridge — bridge in Illinois and Iowa, U.S
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 8m. Total distance: 200.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.4 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 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. There are 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (IA 5): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 136.7 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 199.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Dubuque, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
