Monticello, IA to Sioux City, IA is 284.2 miles and takes about 5h 42m via Avenue of the Saints and US 20, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, traversing the state of Iowa from east to central. It's a straightforward, single-day trip that offers a practical way to get from point A to point B without much fuss. You'll encounter a mix of driving conditions, making it a balanced journey for a quick overland trek across Iowa.
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
142.1 miles from Monticello, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
160.2 mi
3h 4m
US 20
49.4 mi
56m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
State Highway 38
18.2 mi
27m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
3rd Street
1.2 mi
1m
North Cedar Street
1 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 Monticello, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on North Maple Street
73 ft·5 sec·North Maple Street
2
Turn right onto IA 38
0.1 mi·11 sec·East 1st Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto IA 38
1.0 mi·1 min·North Cedar Street
4
Continue on IA 38
8.6 mi·12 min·State Highway 38
5
Continue on IA 38
0.6 mi·57 sec·3rd Street
6
Continue on IA 38
7.2 mi·10 min·State Highway 38
7
Continue on IA 38
0.5 mi·48 sec·Market Street
8
Turn right onto IA 38
0.6 mi·52 sec·3rd Street
9
Continue on IA 38
2.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 38
10
Continue on IA 38
434 ft·13 sec·5th Street
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
12
Merge onto US 20
49 mi·56 min·US 20
13
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
14
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
15
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
16
Continue on US 20
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
19
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
20
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
21
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 42m duration, starting your drive in Monticello in the morning is ideal, allowing ample time to reach Sioux City before evening. While the drive is manageable in one day, the longest uninterrupted stretch on the Avenue of the Saints is over 160 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you hit that segment if your tank is low. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility to pause when you feel the need, perhaps midway through your journey on US 20, to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite.
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 142.1 miles from Monticello, IA, or about 2h 51m 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 63 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.1 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
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 Monticello, 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 Monticello, IA
This is one driving day of about 284.2 miles and 5h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Monticello, 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.
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 and 284.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|IA 38 / East 1st Street
Turn right onto IA 38 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.2 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
282.3 mi into trip|~5h 37m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
284 mi into trip|~5h 41m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
284.2 mi into trip|~5h 42m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.97 one way
$83.94 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg99 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$46.33
$92.67
premium
$4.72
$52.77
$105.53
diesel
$4.80
$53.66
$107.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.3
1
$29.84
$13.64
Efficient EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
EV Truck/SUV
113.7
1
$39.79
$18.19
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Monticello, IA
Late night
in Monticello on Monday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Mostly Clear
SW 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Monday
Local time
2:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
S 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
62°F
Hampton, IA
142 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
1 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
5h 42m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed drive, with about 40% of the journey on highways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Avenue of the Saints, including a notable stretch of 160.2 miles without needing to navigate complex intersections. Later, US 20, also known as Highway 20, will guide you through the latter part of your trip. The road conditions generally offer a smooth experience, transitioning between faster highway speeds and more localized road segments.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 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
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 38 / East 1st Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 42m 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: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 282.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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
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 11 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 11 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 38 / East 1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 282.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sioux City, IA before the return drive.
