Osceola to Dubuque is 237.5 miles and takes about 4h 40m via I 35 and Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest landscape. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way northeast. With just one recommended stop and a drive time under five hours, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
118.7 miles from Osceola, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 35
49.7 mi
54m
Lincoln Highway
37 mi
42m
Northeast Hubbell Road
33.5 mi
39m
200th Avenue
32.4 mi
37m
73rd Street
26.8 mi
30m
Marion Airport Road
24.1 mi
27m
IA 100
9.4 mi
11m
US 151
6.2 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 49.7 mi, about 54m
Traffic on I-35
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,832 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,262
Quietest
2 AM
~191 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Osceola, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on US 69
1.8 mi·2 min·South Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR R35
1.2 mi·2 min·County Road R35
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I-35 north: Des Moines
4
Merge onto I 35
50 mi·54 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
6
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
8
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
13
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
14
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
15
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
16
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi·27 min·Marion Airport Road
17
Continue on US 151
32 mi·37 min·200th Avenue
18
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
21
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
22
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
23
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 40m duration, starting your drive in Osceola in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Dubuque before dark. The route is designed for a single day, so you'll likely only need one brief stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway stretches, as services can be more spread out on the surface road portions. You can budget around $36 for fuel for this 237.5-mile trip.
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 118.7 miles from Osceola, IA, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 52 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.7 miles or 2h 18m 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 48m
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 Osceola, 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 Osceola, IA
This is one driving day of about 237.5 miles and 4h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Osceola, 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 35 for about 49.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 237 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.3 mi into trip|~5m in|I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
53 mi into trip|~1h in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
57.5 mi into trip|~1h 5m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
5
156.9 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Take the exit toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
6
237 mi into trip|~4h 38m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.07 one way
$70.15 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$38.72
$77.44
premium
$4.72
$44.10
$88.19
diesel
$4.80
$44.84
$89.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.3
0
$24.94
$11.40
Efficient EV
59.4
0
$20.78
$9.50
EV Truck/SUV
95
1
$33.25
$15.20
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Osceola, IA
Late night
in Osceola on Sunday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WNW 7 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Sunday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
89°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Sunny
N 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 18 at 9:57AM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
87°F
Brooklyn, IA
119 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
4 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 40m 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?
About 30% of this 237.5-mile drive is on highways, with the longest stretch on I 35 covering 49.7 miles. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads, particularly as you navigate Lincoln Highway and Northeast Hubbell Road. Expect periods of more rural driving after leaving the interstate corridor.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 miles in near I 35.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 237.5 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 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,138 ft623 ft
Total Climb
454 ft
Total Descent
969 ft
Highest Point
1,138 ft
Elevation Range
515 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Osceola, IA and Dubuque, IA, road signs point toward Bondurant and Marion.
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.
Top landmarks
•St. Raphael's Cathedral — church in Dubuque, Iowa
•Lock and Dam No. 11 — lock and dam on the Mississippi River located between Dubuque, Iowa and rural Gr...
•Julien Dubuque Bridge — bridge in Illinois and Iowa, U.S
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 237.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.7 miles on I 35. 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.
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 Dubuque, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.3 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 53 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 57.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Dubuque, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
