Pleasant Hill, IA to Dubuque, IA is 185.8 miles and takes about 3h 45m via Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically crossing Iowa from west to east. Expect a local drive with plenty of turns, rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is ideal if you prefer a more engaged driving experience with frequent changes in scenery and direction.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
92.9 miles from Pleasant Hill, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
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
Collins Road Northeast
5.9 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Lincoln Highway
— 37 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Hill, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on Doanes Park Road
62 ft·6 sec·Doanes Park Road
2
Turn right onto South Pleasant Hill Boulevard
1.0 mi·2 min·South Pleasant Hill Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Maple Drive
0.2 mi·39 sec·Maple Drive
4
Turn left onto North Hickory Boulevard
367 ft·7 sec·North Hickory Boulevard
5
Turn right onto IA 163
0.7 mi·1 min·East University Avenue
6
Turn left onto Northeast 56th Street
1.6 mi·2 min·Northeast 56th Street
7
Continue on East 56th Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East 56th Street
8
Continue on 34th Avenue Southwest
1.6 mi·2 min·34th Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto US 6
0.5 mi·53 sec·Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on US 65; IA 330
33 mi·39 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
13
Merge onto US 30
37 mi·42 min·Lincoln Highway
14
Continue on US 30
27 mi·30 min·73rd Street
15
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Toward IA 100 East: Cedar Rapids, Marion
16
Continue on IA 100
9.4 mi·11 min·IA 100
17
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 100
5.9 mi·7 min·Collins Road Northeast
18
Turn left onto US 151; IA 13
1.1 mi·1 min·US 151; IA 13
19
Turn right onto US 151
24 mi·27 min·Marion Airport Road
20
Continue on US 151
32 mi·37 min·200th Avenue
21
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
24
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
25
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
26
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 45m duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip from Pleasant Hill to Dubuque. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach your destination with daylight to spare. While there's only one recommended stop, the turn-heavy nature of the drive means you'll naturally pass through various towns, offering spontaneous opportunities for breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the highway share is low; the estimated fuel cost is $29, so plan accordingly before departing or in larger towns along the way.
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 92.9 miles from Pleasant Hill, IA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37 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 41 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.9 miles or 1h 53m 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 4m
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 Pleasant Hill, 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 Pleasant Hill, IA
This is one driving day of about 185.8 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Pleasant Hill, 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 Lincoln Highway for about 37 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 185.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.2 mi into trip|~2m in|North Hickory Boulevard
Turn left onto North Hickory Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
105.3 mi into trip|~2h 7m 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
185.4 mi into trip|~3h 44m 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
5
185.8 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
185.8 mi into trip|~3h 45m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.05 one way
$58.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg65 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.89
$63.79
premium
$4.89
$35.76
$71.51
diesel
$5.61
$41.02
$82.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.7
0
$19.51
$8.92
Efficient EV
46.5
0
$16.26
$7.43
EV Truck/SUV
74.3
0
$26.01
$11.89
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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 20, 2026
Origin
Pleasant Hill, IA
Late night
in Pleasant Hill on Tuesday
Local time
3:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Mostly Clear
ESE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 2:15AM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 9:02PM CDT until April 20 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Tuesday
Local time
3:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
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
29 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 45m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a turn-heavy local drive, with only 9% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating county roads and local routes, which means a dynamic driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 37 miles on Lincoln Highway, so you'll be adjusting your speed and direction frequently. This isn't a monotonous interstate cruise; prepare for a more engaging drive that keeps you connected to the landscape and the road.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37 mi on Lincoln Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near North Hickory Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 185.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.2 miles (North Hickory Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 105.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Pleasant Hill, IA to Dubuque, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Marion along the way.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 45m. Total distance: 185.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37 miles on Lincoln Highway. 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 1.2 miles (North Hickory Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 105.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 185.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Dubuque, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
