Spanning 225 miles across the Iowa countryside, this journey from Pleasantville to Sioux City typically takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $34 for fuel to complete the transit. Navigating via East Jasper Street, County Highway G40, and Highway 5, you will remain entirely within the Midwest region. Whether you are heading west for business or a quick getaway, this trek offers a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Iowa communities.
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
112.5 miles from Pleasantville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
94.8 mi
1h 41m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
State Highway 5
17 mi
19m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.3 mi
14m
I 35
4.3 mi
5m
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
John MacVicar Freeway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 94.8 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasantville, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
94 ft·6 sec·South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto CR G40
0.4 mi·44 sec·East Jasper Street
3
Continue on CR G40
0.2 mi·21 sec·County Highway G40
4
Turn right onto IA 5
17 mi·19 min·State Highway 5
5
Merge onto US 65; IA 5
12 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
7
Merge onto I 35
4.3 mi·5 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J
0.5 mi·1 min·Ramp 72 J
Exit 72BToward I 80 west: Council BluffsUse the straight / right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 235
0.5 mi·40 sec·John MacVicar Freeway
10
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
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.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
13
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
15
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
17
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
18
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
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
Since this is a manageable 3.5-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. While you only need to account for one stop, it is wise to pace yourself given the technical nature of the local roads. Ensure you have your navigation tools ready before leaving Pleasantville, as relying on secondary highways like G40 can be trickier than staying on a main interstate. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early on, as local road driving can sometimes consume gas differently than steady highway cruising. By staying alert to the changing turns along Highway 5, you will find this an efficient way to cross the state.
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 112.5 miles from Pleasantville, IA, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.8 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 49 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 5m 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 23m
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 Pleasantville, 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 Pleasantville, IA
This is one driving day of about 224.9 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Pleasantville, 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 94.8 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.1 and 224.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
35.1 mi into trip|~42m in|Ramp 72 J
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 J toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs
9
131 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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
147.6 mi into trip|~2h 43m 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
223.7 mi into trip|~4h 6m in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
224.4 mi into trip|~4h 7m 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
$35.16 one way
$70.32 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.60
$77.21
premium
$4.89
$43.28
$86.56
diesel
$5.61
$49.66
$99.31
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: 78.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.5
0
$23.61
$10.80
Efficient EV
56.2
0
$19.68
$9.00
EV Truck/SUV
90
1
$31.49
$14.39
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Pleasantville, IA
Late night
in Pleasantville on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
5:24 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Sunny
NNW 20 to 25 mph3% chanceLive forecast
50°F
Avoca, IA
112 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 9m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that trades the monotony of an interstate for a more hands-on experience behind the wheel. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be cruising on high-speed freeways; instead, you will navigate local routes that demand your full attention. The road character remains consistent as you transition away from Pleasantville, favoring smaller lanes that require steady focus. Since this route lacks the long, uninterrupted stretches found on major turnpikes, you will find the pace is dictated by the twists and turns of the Iowa landscape. Prepare for a drive that prioritizes local navigation over rapid transit.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.8 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 35.1 miles in near Ramp 72 J.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 224.9 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 35.1 miles (Ramp 72 J): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 131 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.6 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 224.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.8 miles on I 80. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.1 miles (Ramp 72 J): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 131 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 147.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
