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Trip from Indianola, IA to Dubuque, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 7m

Distance

203.6 mi

328 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

Fair

3 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 55m ★
6 AM
4h 8m
8 AM
4h 34m
10 AM
4h 17m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 33m
8 PM
4h 0m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in Warren County, Iowa, United States

Indianola, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

city in and county seat of Dubuque, Iowa, United States

Dubuque, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 189A Toward 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.

Downtown Vinton, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vinton, IA

102 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Vinton, IA to Dubuque, IA

91.9 mi · 1h 56m

Pacing Suggestions

Colfax, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vinton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 101.8 miles from Indianola, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Paradise Indian Grill - Cedar Rapids

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Hiawatha, Iowa

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 130.9

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13193182070

Visit website

Oscar's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hiawatha, Iowa

1.6 mi

Scott's Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

2 mi

Paradise Indian Grill - Cedar Rapids

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 130.9

Hiawatha, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13193182070

Visit website

Taco John's

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 130.9

Hiawatha, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–11 pm

+13192004800

Visit website

Oscar's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 130.9

Hiawatha, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+13193788885

Visit website

Scott's Family Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 130.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–3 pm

+13195504517

Visit website

Sunshine Family Restaurant West

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 203.6

Dubuque, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15635573000

Subway

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour Inexpensiv mile 159.9

Anamosa, Iowa

Hours: 8 am–9 pm

+13194624411

Visit website

Tommy's West Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20 mile 130.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+13193963045

Visit website

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour Expensive mile 130.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

InCharge Energy Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 116.3

Newhall, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18333994638

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 130.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

1.1 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 130.9

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

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

$31.83 one way

$63.66 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $34.95 $69.90
premium $4.89 $39.18 $78.36
diesel $5.61 $44.95 $89.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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, 2026-04-13.

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 $17.81 $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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Indianola, IA

Night in Indianola on Saturday

Local time

11:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dubuque, IA

Night in Dubuque on Saturday

Local time

11:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Vinton, IA

102 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

27 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 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.

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 Effort 6/10

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.

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

About the Cities

Arriving in Dubuque, IA

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

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.

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 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.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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