Newton, IA to Sioux City, IA is 232.4 miles and takes about 4h 17m via I 80 and I 29, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest and connecting two points within the state. It's a straightforward, mostly highway route that should be easy to navigate for a single-day drive. Expect a consistent driving experience without significant changes in terrain or scenery. This route is ideal if you're looking for efficiency and a quick transit between these two Iowa cities.
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
116.2 miles from Newton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
101.1 mi
1h 49m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
US 6
35.1 mi
39m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
South 8th Avenue West
0.7 mi
1m
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
South 12th Avenue West
0.5 mi
<1m
1st Street South
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 101.1 mi, about 1h 49m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,658 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,087
Quietest
2 AM
~207 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 51 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newton, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on US 6
0.3 mi·1 min·1st Avenue East
2
Turn left onto 1st Street South
0.5 mi·1 min·1st Street South
3
At end of road, turn right onto South 8th Avenue West
0.7 mi·1 min·South 8th Avenue West
4
Continue on West 12th Street South
0.2 mi·17 sec·West 12th Street South
5
Keep slight right at fork onto South 12th Avenue West
0.5 mi·55 sec·South 12th Avenue West
6
Turn left onto US 6; IA 14
0.2 mi·25 sec·US 6; IA 14
7
Take the ramp onto US 6
35 mi·39 min·US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 80; I 35
5.6 mi·6 min·I 80; I 35
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
12
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
14
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
16
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
19
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
20
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 17m duration, leaving Newton in the morning allows ample time to reach Sioux City before evening. With only one recommended stop and a short overall drive, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 101.1-mile segment on I 80, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $36 is a good budget to plan around. If you decide to break up the drive, there are various towns along I 80 that offer services.
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 116.2 miles from Newton, IA, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.1 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.2 miles or 2h 9m 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 30m
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 Newton, 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 Newton, IA
This is one driving day of about 232.4 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Newton, 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 I 80 for about 101.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 42.9 and 231.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
42.9 mi into trip|~50m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
9
138.4 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 880
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27
Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
155.1 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 0B
Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
6
231.2 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
231.9 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|6th Street
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.32 one way
$68.64 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.89
$75.78
premium
$4.72
$43.15
$86.30
diesel
$4.80
$43.88
$87.76
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: 81.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.7
0
$24.40
$11.16
Efficient EV
58.1
0
$20.34
$9.30
EV Truck/SUV
93
1
$32.54
$14.87
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Newton, IA
Late night
in Newton on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Cloudy
S 3 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:44AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
5:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Clear
SSE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 10:44AM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
88°F
Avoca, IA
116 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
4h 17m 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?
You'll spend 98% of your time on highways, primarily I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch without needing to exit is 101.1 miles on I 80. You'll experience mostly rural cruising with frequent exits as you transition between I 80 and I 29. The drive concludes on US 6 as you approach Sioux City.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 42.9 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 232.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 42.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 232.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 31 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Sioux City, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 31 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 42.9 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
