This 203.6-mile journey from Indianola, Iowa, to Dubuque, Iowa, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 4 hours and 7 minutes. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with a modest 8% share of highway driving, making it a more turn-heavy local experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $32, it's an economical option for exploring more of the Midwest. The drive is straightforward, covering ground within the same state, and is best suited for those who prefer a less highway-intensive approach to covering moderate distances. You'll find the experience is more about the journey through Iowa's landscape than covering ground quickly.
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
101.8 miles from Indianola, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m 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
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
11 mi
12m
South Jefferson Way
10 mi
15m
IA 100
9.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Indianola, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on this road
79 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto IA 92
291 ft·8 sec·East 2nd Avenue
3
Turn right onto US 65; US 69
10 mi·15 min·South Jefferson Way
4
Take the ramp
1.1 mi·1 min
5
Continue on US 65; IA 5
11 mi·12 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
7
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·41 sec·this road
8
Turn right onto US 6
1.2 mi·1 min·Hubbell Avenue
9
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
12
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
13
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
14
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
15
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
16
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
17
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
18
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi·27 min·Marion Airport Road
19
Continue on US 151
32 mi·37 min·200th Avenue
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
23
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
24
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
25
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 7-minute duration and 203.6-mile length, this route is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip. Consider departing in the morning to allow ample time for any brief stops you might need, keeping in mind the estimated fuel cost of $32. The longest stretch is 37 miles on Lincoln Highway, so plan for that segment to be your most continuous driving period. With only one recommended stop and a local road focus, flexibility is key; you can adjust your pace as needed. Keep an eye out for the transition between different local road designations as you progress toward Dubuque.
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 101.8 miles from Indianola, IA, or about 2h 5m 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 45 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.8 miles or 2h 5m 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 23m
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 Indianola, 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 Indianola, IA
This is one driving day of about 203.6 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Indianola, 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.2 and 203.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
22.2 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
5
123 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
6
203.1 mi into trip|~4h 6m 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
203.5 mi into trip|~4h 7m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
203.6 mi into trip|~4h 7m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.07 one way
$60.13 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$33.19
$66.39
premium
$4.72
$37.80
$75.60
diesel
$4.80
$38.44
$76.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.1
0
$21.38
$9.77
Efficient EV
50.9
0
$17.82
$8.14
EV Truck/SUV
81.4
1
$28.50
$13.03
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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Indianola, IA
Late night
in Indianola on Sunday
Local time
5:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Partly Cloudy
ENE 3 to 7 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:08PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
5:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Clear then Patchy Smoke
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:08PM CDT until July 20 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 7m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' personality for this 203.6-mile route. While only 8% of the journey involves highways, the majority unfolds on local roads like Lincoln Highway, Northeast Hubbell Road, and 200th Avenue. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 37 miles on Lincoln Highway, offering a sustained period of driving before the route begins to break down into more frequent turns. This character suggests a drive where you'll be more engaged with the steering wheel and potentially observing more of the immediate surroundings rather than cruising at high speeds.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 22.2 miles in.
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 203.6 miles you will encounter 14 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 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,041 ft623 ft
Total Climb
533 ft
Total Descent
882 ft
Highest Point
1,041 ft
~58.2 mi in
Elevation Range
419 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Indianola, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Altoona and Marion.
Altoona
22.2 mi in|~30m
Marion
123 mi in|~2h 29m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 7m. Total distance: 203.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m 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.
Yes — we found about 6 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.1 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.
