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Trip from Le Mars, 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

37m

Distance

25.9 mi

42 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 34m ★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m

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 Iowa, United States

Le Mars, IA

Wikimedia Commons

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

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick, efficient connection in the heart of the Midwest, this 25.9-mile journey from Le Mars to Sioux City is an ideal choice. Expect to spend about 37 minutes behind the wheel, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US 75, US 75 Business, and State Highway 3. With a fuel cost of approximately $4, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute between these two Iowa hubs. Whether you are running errands or heading out for a short visit, the simplicity of this route allows for maximum flexibility in your schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 75 17.7 mi 21m
US 75 Business 4 mi 5m
State Highway 3 1.1 mi 1m
11th Street 0.7 mi 1m
Plymouth Street Southwest 0.5 mi 1m
Terminal Drive 0.4 mi <1m
Plymouth Street Northwest 0.4 mi 1m
9th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 75 — 17.7 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 1st Street Northeast

239 ft · 15 sec · 1st Street Northeast
2

Turn left onto Central Avenue

441 ft · 19 sec · Central Avenue
3

Turn right onto IA 3

0.4 mi · 1 min · Plymouth Street Northwest
4

Continue on IA 3

0.5 mi · 1 min · Plymouth Street Southwest
5

Continue on IA 3

366 ft · 6 sec · Plymouth Street West
6

Continue on IA 3

1.1 mi · 1 min · State Highway 3
7

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward US 75 Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto US 75

18 mi · 21 min · US 75
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the exit onto US 75 Business

4.0 mi · 5 min · US 75 Business
Toward CR D12, US 75 Business: Floyd Boulevard, 46th Street Use the straight lane.
10

Turn right onto 18th Street

239 ft · 7 sec · 18th Street
11

Turn left onto Terminal Drive

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Terminal Drive
12

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 29 sec · this road
13

Turn right onto 11th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · 11th Street
14

Turn left onto Court Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Court Street
15

Turn right onto 9th Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · 9th Street
16

Turn right

115 ft · 8 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 2.2 and 25.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
2.2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward US 75

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 75
5
2.5 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 75

Merge onto US 75

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
20.2 mi into trip | ~27m in | US 75 Business

Take the exit onto US 75 Business toward CR D12, US 75 Business: Floyd Boulevard, 46th Street

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

Use the straight lane. Toward CR D12, US 75 Business: Floyd Boulevard,...
5
25.7 mi into trip | ~36m in | 9th Street

Turn right onto 9th Street

Navigation decision point

5
25.9 mi into trip | ~37m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.05 one way

$8.10 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $4.45 $8.89
premium $4.89 $4.98 $9.97
diesel $5.61 $5.72 $11.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.8 0 $2.72 $1.24
Efficient EV 6.5 0 $2.27 $1.04
EV Truck/SUV 10.4 0 $3.63 $1.66

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 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 13, 2026

Origin

Le Mars, IA

Late night in Le Mars on Sunday

Local time

5:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Sioux City, IA

Late night in Sioux City on Sunday

Local time

5:02 AM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 13 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 9:52PM CDT until April 14 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

37m 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?

This is a highway-focused drive, with 88% of your time spent on main thoroughfares. You will quickly settle into a steady rhythm on US 75, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.7 miles. The character of the road is straightforward and functional, prioritizing speed and directness over winding scenic detours. As you transition from the highway onto US 75 Business or State Highway 3, the pace naturally slows, shifting from an open-road feel to a more local driving environment. It is a predictable, low-stress experience that lets you cover the distance efficiently.

88% 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: 17.7 mi on US 75.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 75 and US 75 Business. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 25.9 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (US 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (US 75 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,258 ft 1,108 ft

Total Climb

121 ft

Total Descent

149 ft

Highest Point

1,258 ft

~1.9 mi in

Elevation Range

149 ft

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 Le Mars, IA to Sioux City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Cr D12 along the way.

Cr D12

20.2 mi in | ~27m | via US 75 Business

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 37m. Total distance: 25.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 17.7 miles on US 75. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 2.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.5 miles (US 75): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (US 75 Business): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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