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Trip from Lake City, IA to Sioux City, IA

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

Drive Time

2h 11m

Distance

101.4 mi

163 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$16

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 2m ★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m

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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Downtown Lake City, IA, IA

Lake City, IA

Tom Fisk

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

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward, 101.4-mile drive from Lake City, IA, to Sioux City, IA, is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 11 minutes. Primarily utilizing US 20 and US 71, with a segment on 370th Street, this route is 85% highway, making for an efficient journey across the Midwest. With an estimated fuel cost of $16, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a practical transfer. You won't encounter any designated stops on this particular route, so plan your breaks accordingly, but the relatively short duration means you can be flexible.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

50.7 miles from Lake City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 20 73.5 mi 1h 29m
US 71 9.9 mi 13m
370th Street 4.9 mi 7m
Union Avenue 3.9 mi 5m
365th Street 3.1 mi 4m
State Highway 175 3 mi 4m
6th Street 0.9 mi 2m
West Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 20 — 73.5 mi, about 1h 29m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Center Street

45 ft · 4 sec · North Center Street
2

Turn right onto IA 175

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
3

Continue on IA 175

3.0 mi · 4 min · State Highway 175
4

Continue on IA 175

3.1 mi · 4 min · 365th Street
5

Continue on IA 175

4.8 mi · 6 min · 370th Street
6

Continue on US 71; IA 175

0.2 mi · 13 sec · 370th Street
7

Continue on US 71; IA 175

3.9 mi · 5 min · Union Avenue
8

Continue on US 71

9.9 mi · 13 min · US 71
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward US 20 West, US 71 NORTH Use the left lane.
10

Merge onto US 20; US 71

29 mi · 33 min · US 20; US 71
11

Continue on US 20; US 59

44 mi · 55 min · US 20; US 59
Use the straight lane.
12

Turn right onto South Fairmount Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
13

Continue on 6th Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · 6th Street
14

Turn right onto Court Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Court Street
15

Turn left onto 9th Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · 9th Street
16

Turn right

115 ft · 8 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 2-hour, 11-minute duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day with no need to split the driving. Starting your journey in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility should you decide to make unscheduled stops. While there are no official stops noted, planning for fuel and rest breaks every 70-80 miles is a good practice, especially considering the longest stretch on US 20 is 73.5 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $16, and plan your fill-up accordingly before you depart Lake City or upon arrival in Sioux City.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.7 miles from Lake City, IA, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.5 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 22 miles or 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 50.7 miles or 1h 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 1h 45m

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 Lake City, 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 Lake City, IA

This is one driving day of about 101.4 miles and 2h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Lake City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 73.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Holstein, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Holstein, IA

51 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

Sac City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Holstein, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 50.7 miles from Lake City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 73.5 miles.

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

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 101.4

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 101.4

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.3 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 36.2

Early, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 101.4

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

ChargeLab Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 86.9

Moville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 101.4

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 94.1

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 101.4

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.4 mi from route ~11 min detour mile 94.1

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 101.4

Sioux City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 101.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | IA 175 / West Main Street

Turn right onto IA 175 / West Main Street

Navigation decision point

9
25.5 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward US 20 West, US 71 NORTH

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward US 20 West, US 71 NORTH
6
99.4 mi into trip | ~2h 6m in | South Fairmount Street

Turn right onto South Fairmount Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
101.2 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in | 9th Street

Turn left onto 9th Street

Navigation decision point

5
101.3 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.85 one way

$31.71 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 36 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $17.41 $34.81
premium $4.89 $19.51 $39.03
diesel $5.61 $22.39 $44.78

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 30.4 0 $10.65 $4.87
Efficient EV 25.4 0 $8.87 $4.06
EV Truck/SUV 40.6 0 $14.20 $6.49

Gas CO2

35 kg

EV CO2

12 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

Lake City, IA

Morning in Lake City on Sunday

Local time

11:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sioux City, IA

Morning in Sioux City on Sunday

Local time

11:34 AM

CDT

Current temp

30°F

Mostly Clear

NW 10 to 15 mph 1% chance 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

19 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 11m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 101.4-mile trip, with 85% of the drive taking place on main roads like US 20 and US 71. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.5 miles on US 20, offering a good period of consistent travel. While the profile is generally highway-oriented, be aware that the inclusion of 370th Street might introduce some local road characteristics before rejoining the primary highways. This route is designed for steady progress rather than winding scenic detours.

85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.5 mi on US 20.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and US 71. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 175 / West Main Street.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lake City, IA to Sioux City, IA is easy. At 2h 11m with 85% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 175 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.4 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in Sioux City, IA

Full guide →

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.

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 2h 11m. Total distance: 101.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (85%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 73.5 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: near the start (IA 175 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.4 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sioux City, IA before heading back.

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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