This 318.1-mile journey from Sheldon to Dubuque, Iowa, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 5 hours and 10 minutes to complete. You'll navigate primarily on local roads, with a 0% highway share, making it a more turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $48, and with only one planned stop, you can maintain a steady pace. This route is ideal if you're looking for a direct drive through the heart of the Midwest without the need for an overnight stay.
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
159.9 miles from Sheldon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
164.9 mi
3h 10m
US 20
81.4 mi
1h 36m
20th Avenue
9.2 mi
12m
State Highway 3
8.6 mi
11m
IA 60 Business
7.5 mi
9m
Armstrong Avenue
6 mi
8m
D Avenue
5.7 mi
7m
Log Avenue
5.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 164.9 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sheldon, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on 9th Street
25 ft·5 sec·9th Street
2
Turn left onto IA 60 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·2nd Avenue
3
Take the ramp onto IA 60 Business
7.5 mi·9 min·IA 60 Business
4
Turn left onto L22
5.6 mi·7 min·Log Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto IA 10
1.0 mi·1 min·460th Street
6
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi·1 min·Garfield Street
7
Continue on IA 10
3.5 mi·4 min·460th Street
8
Turn right onto IA 143
5.0 mi·6 min·Nettle Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi·7 min·D Avenue
10
Continue on IA 143
1.3 mi·2 min·Ames Avenue
11
Turn left onto IA 3
5.0 mi·6 min·490th Street
12
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 3
13
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi·3 min·500th Street
14
Turn straight onto IA 3
4.4 mi·6 min·State Highway 3
15
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi·4 min·530th Street
16
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi·2 min·V Avenue
17
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi·2 min·1st Street
18
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi·2 min·State Highway 7
19
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi·1 min·Highway 7
20
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi·12 min·20th Avenue
21
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi·8 min·Armstrong Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
165 mi·3 hr 10 min·220th Street
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 20
24
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
25
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi·20 sec·IA 946
Toward IA 946
26
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft·13 sec·US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
28
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
29
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
30
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
31
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour and 10-minute duration for this 318.1-mile trip, starting early in the morning will allow you to comfortably reach Dubuque with ample daylight. With only one stop recommended and a 0% highway share, plan your restroom and refreshment breaks strategically around any small towns you encounter. The estimated fuel cost of $48 is manageable, but it’s always wise to top off your tank before leaving Sheldon. Keep an eye on your GPS for the frequent turns characteristic of this local road-focused drive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.9 miles from Sheldon, IA, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 164.9 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 70 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.9 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 21m
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 Sheldon, 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 Sheldon, IA
This is one driving day of about 319.7 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Sheldon, 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 220th Street for about 164.9 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 8.9 and 319.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.9 mi into trip|~12m in|L22 / Log Avenue
Turn left onto L22 / Log Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
19.5 mi into trip|~27m in|IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
319.2 mi into trip|~6h 29m in|US 61; US 151
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
319.3 mi into trip|~6h 29m 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
319.7 mi into trip|~6h 30m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.98 one way
$99.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$54.88
$109.76
premium
$4.89
$61.52
$123.05
diesel
$5.61
$70.59
$141.17
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.9
1
$33.57
$15.35
Efficient EV
79.9
0
$27.97
$12.79
EV Truck/SUV
127.9
1
$44.76
$20.46
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Sheldon, IA
Evening
in Sheldon on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Evening
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Nevada, IA
160 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
6h 30m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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" for the entirety of this 318.1-mile route, as it features a 0% highway share. You'll be maneuvering through various local roads, including 2nd Avenue, Log Avenue, and 460th Street. While there isn't a defined longest uninterrupted stretch, the constant engagement with local routes means you'll be consistently navigating turns and changes in scenery. This drive will likely feel more like a series of connected local journeys rather than a single highway expedition.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 164.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 8.9 miles in near L22 / Log Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 30m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 15 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.9 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 319.2 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 30m. Total distance: 319.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 164.9 miles on 220th Street. 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 is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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 8.9 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 319.2 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dubuque, IA before the return drive.
