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Trip from Jesup, IA to Sioux City, IA

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

Drive Time

4h 32m

Distance

228.5 mi

368 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 19m ★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
4h 59m
10 AM
4h 42m
12 PM
4h 39m
3 PM
4h 43m
5 PM
4h 58m
8 PM
4h 25m

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

Best Time
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city in Iowa, United States

Jesup, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city ​​in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in Iowa, United States

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 228.5-mile journey from Jesup, IA, to Sioux City, IA, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 4 hours and 32 minutes. You'll primarily navigate on Highway 20 and US 20, with a portion on the Avenue of the Saints, making for a 25% highway share. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $36, and with only one recommended stop, it’s a relatively straightforward drive. This route is ideal for those looking to cover ground efficiently within the Midwest, offering a practical way to connect these two Iowa locations without needing an overnight stay.

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

114.3 miles from Jesup, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Avenue of the Saints 160.2 mi 3h 4m
Highway 20 42.9 mi 53m
US 20 12.7 mi 14m
160th Street 6.4 mi 7m
United States Highway 20 1.9 mi 2m
6th Street 1.4 mi 3m
Benson Shady Grove Avenue 1.2 mi 1m
South Fairmount Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 160.2 mi, about 3h 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Jesup, IA and Sioux City, IA.

1

Start on 6th Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · 6th Street
2

At end of road, turn left onto CR D22

0.4 mi · 41 sec · South Street
3

Turn right onto V65

1.2 mi · 1 min · Benson Shady Grove Avenue
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec
5

Merge onto US 20

13 mi · 14 min · US 20
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

Given the 4-hour and 32-minute duration for 228.5 miles, this trip is comfortably a single-day excursion. Aim to depart Jesup in the morning to allow ample time for any unexpected delays or a brief stop. With only one suggested stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 160.2-mile stretch on the Avenue of the Saints, as services might be less frequent there. The $36 fuel estimate is a helpful guide for budgeting your travel expenses.

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 114.3 miles from Jesup, IA, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 160.2 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 50 miles or 59m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 114.3 miles or 2h 13m 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 38m

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 Jesup, 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 Jesup, IA

This is one driving day of about 228.5 miles and 4h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Jesup, 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 160.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Somers, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Somers, IA

114 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Cedar Falls, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Fort Dodge, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 114.3 miles from Jesup, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 160.2 miles.

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

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch · 0min to go 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargeLab Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Moville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Early, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Pilot Flying J Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

Early stretch 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Williams, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15155160821

Visit website

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Holstein Travel Center

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Casey's General Store

0.3 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.4 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

1.5 mi from 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 0.5 and 228.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | CR D22 / South Street

At end of road, turn left onto CR D22 / South Street

Navigation decision point

4
15.2 mi into trip | ~19m in | US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
226.6 mi into trip | ~4h 27m in | South Fairmount Street

Turn right onto South Fairmount Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
228.3 mi into trip | ~4h 31m in | 9th Street

Turn left onto 9th Street

Navigation decision point

5
228.5 mi into trip | ~4h 32m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$33.74 one way

$67.49 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.14 $37.25 $74.51
premium $4.72 $42.43 $84.85
diesel $4.80 $43.15 $86.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 68.6 0 $23.99 $10.97
Efficient EV 57.1 0 $19.99 $9.14
EV Truck/SUV 91.4 1 $31.99 $14.62

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Jesup, IA

Late night in Jesup on Sunday

Local time

5:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

86°F

Sunny

N 10 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Sioux City, IA

Late night in Sioux City on Sunday

Local time

5:41 AM

CDT

Current temp

92°F

Sunny

ENE 5 to 10 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 10:14AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

63°F

Somers, IA

114 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

6 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

4h 32m 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 for much of this 228.5-mile route. While 25% of your journey will be on highways, the majority involves navigating local roads and state highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 160.2 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a good period of consistent travel. This drive is characterized by frequent changes in direction and pace, requiring your attention as you move through various Iowa landscapes. It’s less of a highway cruise and more of an engaged exploration of the state’s byways.

Only 25% 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: 160.2 mi on Avenue of the Saints.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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 around 0.5 miles in near CR D22 / South Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 32m 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: at 0.5 miles (CR D22 / South Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 226.6 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,401 ft 929 ft

Total Climb

663 ft

Total Descent

446 ft

Highest Point

1,401 ft

~163.2 mi in

Elevation Range

472 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Jesup, IA

Full guide →

Arriving in Sioux City, IA

Full guide →

Founded 1854

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

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 32m. Total distance: 228.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (25%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 160.2 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 9 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.

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 0.5 miles (CR D22 / South Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.2 miles (US 20; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 226.6 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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