This 190.6-mile drive from Keokuk, IA to Dubuque, IA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 47 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 64% of the journey on major roads like US 61. With an estimated fuel cost of $30, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. You'll experience a relatively straightforward drive, making it ideal for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stay. This trip offers a direct connection between two Iowa communities, keeping you largely within the familiar landscape of the state.
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
95.3 miles from Keokuk, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 61
94.3 mi
1h 52m
North Brady Street
64.6 mi
1h 16m
U.S. 61
20.3 mi
22m
Douglas King Memorial Expressway
7.1 mi
8m
Main Street
3.5 mi
5m
West River Drive
0.4 mi
<1m
White Street
0.1 mi
<1m
East 7th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 61
— 94.3 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Keokuk, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on US 136
3.5 mi·5 min·Main Street
2
Continue on US 61; US 218
72 mi·1 hr 25 min·US 61; US 218
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on US 61; IA 92
8.8 mi·10 min·US 61; IA 92
4
Turn left onto US 61; IA 92
7.1 mi·8 min·Douglas King Memorial Expressway
5
Continue on US 61
20 mi·22 min·U.S. 61
6
Continue on US 61
0.4 mi·34 sec·West River Drive
7
Turn left onto US 61
6.2 mi·7 min·US 61
8
Take the exit onto US 61
5.8 mi·7 min·US 61
Toward I 80 East, US 61 North: Chicago
9
Take the exit onto US 61
0.3 mi·42 sec·US 61
Toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt
10
Merge onto US 61
65 mi·1 hr 16 min·North Brady Street
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
13
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
14
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
15
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
16
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 47 minute duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing you to depart Keokuk in the morning and arrive in Dubuque by afternoon. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longest 94.3-mile stretch on US 61, to avoid any unexpected detours. The estimated fuel cost of $30 makes this an affordable trip, so budget accordingly. Aiming for an early departure will give you ample time to enjoy your destination.
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 95.3 miles from Keokuk, IA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.3 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 42 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.3 miles or 1h 53m 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 5m
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 Keokuk, 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 Keokuk, IA
This is one driving day of about 190.6 miles and 3h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Keokuk, 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 61 for about 94.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 118.4 and 190.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
118.4 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|US 61
Take the exit onto US 61 toward I 80 East, US 61 North: Chicago
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 80 East, US 61 North: Chicago
5
124.2 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|US 61
Take the exit onto US 61 toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 61 North: Eldridge, DeWitt
6
190.2 mi into trip|~3h 46m 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
190.6 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
190.6 mi into trip|~3h 47m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.80 one way
$59.60 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg67 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$32.72
$65.43
premium
$4.89
$36.68
$73.36
diesel
$5.61
$42.08
$84.16
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: 66.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.2
0
$20.01
$9.15
Efficient EV
47.7
0
$16.68
$7.62
EV Truck/SUV
76.2
0
$26.68
$12.20
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Keokuk, IA
Afternoon
in Keokuk on Sunday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Afternoon
in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
4:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live 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
7 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
3h 47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is largely highway-focused, with a significant 64% of the 190.6 miles utilizing major roadways. You'll find yourself on US 61 for extended periods, including a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 94.3 miles. This suggests a consistent pace for much of the journey, allowing for efficient travel. While predominantly highway, the approach into towns will naturally involve more local road navigation. Expect a steady, functional driving experience rather than a winding, scenic tour.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.3 mi on US 61.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 61 and North Brady Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 118.4 miles in near US 61.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 47m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 118.4 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.2 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.2 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.
On the drive from Keokuk, IA to Dubuque, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dewitt along the way.
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 94.3 miles on US 61. 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.
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 118.4 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 124.2 miles (US 61): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 190.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Dubuque, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
