This 170.2-mile journey from Roland, IA to Sioux City, IA takes about 3 hours and 25 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day road trip. Primarily traveling on US 20 and I-35, you'll experience a highway-focused drive through the heart of the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimated around $27, this route is quite economical for its distance. You'll encounter just one suggested stop along the way, allowing for a straightforward and efficient trip. This drive is ideal if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Iowa locations without much fuss.
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
85.1 miles from Roland, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
145 mi
2h 51m
I 35
19.1 mi
20m
130th Street
2.9 mi
5m
6th Street
0.9 mi
2m
South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
1m
East Maple Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
9th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 145 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roland, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on CR E18
0.5 mi·53 sec·East Maple Street
2
Continue on CR E18
2.9 mi·5 min·130th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
4
Merge onto I 35
19 mi·20 min·I 35
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
6
Merge onto US 20
145 mi·2 hr 51 min·US 20
Use the straight lane.
7
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
8
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
9
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
10
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
11
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
12
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 25-minute duration, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day. You can easily depart Roland, IA in the morning and arrive in Sioux City, IA by lunchtime. With only one suggested stop and a long stretch of 145 miles on US 20, plan your fuel and restroom breaks accordingly. Consider leaving early to maximize your daylight hours and allow for any unexpected delays. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you can take your time, but be mindful of the long continuous stretch on US 20 for any necessary stops.
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 85.1 miles from Roland, IA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.1 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
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 Roland, 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 Roland, IA
This is one driving day of about 170.2 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Roland, 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 145 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 170.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
3.4 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
5
23.3 mi into trip|~28m in|US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
168.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
170 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
170.2 mi into trip|~3h 25m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.61 one way
$53.22 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.22
$58.43
premium
$4.89
$32.75
$65.51
diesel
$5.61
$37.58
$75.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.1
0
$17.87
$8.17
Efficient EV
42.6
0
$14.89
$6.81
EV Truck/SUV
68.1
0
$23.83
$10.89
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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
Roland, IA
Late night
in Roland on Tuesday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Tuesday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°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
16 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 25m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways like US 20 and I-35. The majority of your travel, a substantial 145 miles, will be on US 20, offering a consistent pace. While the specific road surface and scenery may not drastically change, this highway-centric profile means you'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads designed for steady travel. This character ensures a predictable driving experience with minimal complex navigation.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 25m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 145 miles on US 20. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 168.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux City, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
