Postville, IA to Sioux City, IA is 287.8 miles and takes about 5h 56m via West Tilden Street, Mill Street, and East Bradford Street, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa for its entirety. Expect a drive that primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a more grounded experience of the local landscape rather than high-speed interstate travel. With a recommended single day of travel, this trip is ideal for those looking to get from point A to point B without extensive planning, focusing on the straightforward 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
143.9 miles from Postville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
199.2 mi
3h 54m
McCloud Avenue
22.4 mi
25m
230th Street
13 mi
17m
270th Street
11.1 mi
15m
Mill Street
9.1 mi
12m
West Tilden Street
7.8 mi
10m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
5.4 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 199.2 mi, about 3h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Postville, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on IA 51
38 ft·2 sec·North Lawler Street
2
Turn right onto US 18; US 52
7.8 mi·10 min·West Tilden Street
3
Continue on US 18
9.1 mi·12 min·Mill Street
4
Continue on US 18
1.3 mi·1 min·East Bradford Street
5
Continue on US 18
13 mi·17 min·230th Street
6
Continue on US 18
5.5 mi·7 min·270th Street
7
Continue on US 18
0.9 mi·1 min·East Main Street
8
Continue on US 18
5.6 mi·7 min·270th Street
9
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·57 sec
10
Merge onto US 63
22 mi·25 min·McCloud Avenue
11
Continue on US 63
6.9 mi·8 min·Logan Avenue
12
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi·5 min·West Airline Highway
13
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.1 mi·21 sec·Airport Boulevard
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 218 north
15
Merge onto US 218
0.6 mi·40 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
16
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 218
17
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·2 min
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
18
Merge onto IA 27; IA 58
1.2 mi·1 min·Avenue of the Saints
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 183Toward University Avenue
20
Keep slight right at fork
333 ft·8 sec
21
Turn straight onto University Avenue
1.8 mi·2 min·University Avenue
22
Enter roundabout onto University Avenue
124 ft·2 sec·University Avenue
23
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
24
Continue on Grundy Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
25
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
Use the right lane.
26
Merge onto US 20
199 mi·3 hr 54 min·US 20
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
28
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
29
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
30
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
31
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 56m estimated drive time, starting your trip in Postville, IA, shortly after sunrise will allow you to reach Sioux City, IA, well before evening. The route is 287.8 miles and primarily consists of surface roads, so plan for a steady pace without significant delays, but also be prepared for potential local traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $51 and only one recommended stop, you can easily manage this trip in a single day. Consider packing snacks and drinks to minimize stops, as the surface road nature of the drive means you'll be passing through populated areas more frequently than on a highway.
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 143.9 miles from Postville, IA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.2 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 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.9 miles or 3h 4m 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 52m
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 Postville, 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 Postville, IA
This is one driving day of about 287.8 miles and 5h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Postville, 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 US 20 for about 199.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 76.1 and 285.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
76.1 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the ramp toward US 218 north
Navigation decision point
Toward US 218 north
6
77.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 27 South, IA 58 South: Hudson, UNI
5
79.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward University Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 183
Toward University Avenue
5
80 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
285.8 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.01 one way
$96.02 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$52.18
$104.36
premium
$5.26
$59.59
$119.18
diesel
$6.18
$70.01
$140.02
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.3
1
$30.22
$13.81
Efficient EV
72
0
$25.18
$11.51
EV Truck/SUV
115.1
1
$40.29
$18.42
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Postville, IA
Late night
in Postville on Tuesday
Local time
12:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Clear
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Tuesday
Local time
12:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive 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
24 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
5h 56m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Effigy Mounds National Monument
National Monument
The mounds preserved here are considered sacred by many Americans, especially the Monument's 20 culturally associated American Indian tribes. A visit offers opportunities to contemplate the meanings o...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway share. You'll begin on West Tilden Street, Mill Street, and East Bradford Street, and the entire 287.8 miles will keep you on this type of roadway. Given the lack of highway, expect to encounter more local traffic and slower speeds for the full duration of the 5h 56m trip. This means you'll be cruising through towns and rural areas continuously, rather than experiencing stretches of high-speed freeway.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 199.2 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and McCloud Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 76.1 miles in.
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 19 significant decision points across 287.8 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 76.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 77.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,420 ft910 ft
Total Climb
529 ft
Total Descent
511 ft
Highest Point
1,420 ft
~246.7 mi in
Elevation Range
509 ft
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 Postville, IA to Sioux City, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Uni along the way.
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 5h 56m. Total distance: 287.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 199.2 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 76.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 77.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Effigy Mounds National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 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.
