Spanning 144.3 miles across the Iowa landscape, this drive from Iowa Falls to Dubuque is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 54 minutes. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $22 on fuel for the one-way trip. The route stays entirely within the Midwest, keeping you firmly in the heart of the region's terrain. Since you only need one planned stop to complete the journey comfortably, this trip is ideal for those who prefer efficient travel over multi-day road adventures.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
72.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
137.3 mi
2h 41m
Oak Street
5.1 mi
8m
East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
IA 946
0.1 mi
<1m
White Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Locust Street
0.1 mi
<1m
US 61
<0.1 mi
<1m
Commercial Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 137.3 mi, about 2h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Iowa Falls, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on Commercial Street
331 ft·11 sec·Commercial Street
2
Turn right onto East Rocksylvania Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·East Rocksylvania Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 65
5.1 mi·8 min·Oak Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
56 mi·1 hr 4 min·US 20
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 20
7
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi·20 sec·IA 946
Toward IA 946
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft·13 sec·US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
11
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
12
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
13
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 54 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving in the morning helps you arrive in Dubuque with time to spare. Plan for at least one stop during your 144.3-mile trek to break up the long 137.3-mile stint on US 20. Keeping your fuel budget around $22 in mind, you will find that the route is simple to navigate if you stay attentive to the transition from local streets like East Rocksylvania Avenue onto the main highway. Since the drive is quite manageable in a single day, consider using that extra time to explore your destination upon arrival rather than worrying about mid-trip fatigue.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72.1 miles from Iowa Falls, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.3 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 32 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.1 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 22m
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 Iowa Falls, 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 Iowa Falls, IA
This is one driving day of about 144.3 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Iowa Falls, 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 US 20 for about 137.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 144.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
143.7 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|US 61; US 151
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
143.8 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
144.2 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
144.2 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.56 one way
$45.12 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.77
$49.54
premium
$4.89
$27.77
$55.54
diesel
$5.61
$31.86
$63.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
43.3
0
$15.15
$6.93
Efficient EV
36.1
0
$12.63
$5.77
EV Truck/SUV
57.7
0
$20.20
$9.24
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 18, 2026
Origin
Iowa Falls, IA
Night
in Iowa Falls on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Night
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
11:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Rain Showers Likely
NW 15 mph59% 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
13 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 54m 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?
Expect a highly efficient experience, as 95% of your travel time will be spent on highways. Your journey is dominated by a 137.3-mile stretch on US 20, which serves as the backbone of the trip and keeps the pace steady. After navigating short local segments on Oak Street and East Rocksylvania Avenue to get out of Iowa Falls, you will settle into a long, consistent highway drive. The road’s personality is defined by this reliance on US 20, offering a predictable path that prioritizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. It is a classic Midwest highway-focused drive that allows you to cover significant distance with minimal interruptions.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.3 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Oak Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 54m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 143.7 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 143.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 137.3 miles on US 20. 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 5.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 143.7 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 143.8 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 Dubuque, IA before heading back.
