If you are planning a trip across Iowa from Sioux City to Anamosa, expect a 278.7-mile journey that takes approximately 5 hours and 34 minutes behind the wheel. This transit is perfectly manageable as a one-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $42 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. The route traverses the heart of the Midwest, transitioning between local roads and major connectors. Because the trip is straightforward, it serves as a reliable way to navigate between these two Iowa locations efficiently.
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
139.4 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
165.9 mi
3h 11m
Highway 20
39.4 mi
47m
Avenue of the Saints
36.2 mi
38m
County Home Road
16.6 mi
22m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Gordon Drive
3.4 mi
6m
Fairview Road
3 mi
5m
County Road E34
2.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 165.9 mi, about 3h 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Anamosa, IA.
1
Start on this road
115 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
3
Turn right onto Court Street
0.1 mi·26 sec·Court Street
4
Turn left onto 7th Street
399 ft·19 sec·7th Street
5
Turn right onto Iowa Street
423 ft·23 sec·Iowa Street
6
Turn left onto 6th Street
0.8 mi·1 min·6th Street
7
Continue on Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Fairmount Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
Turn left onto US 20 Business
3.4 mi·6 min·Gordon Drive
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on US 20
39 mi·47 min·Highway 20
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi·10 min·United States Highway 20
11
Continue on US 20
166 mi·3 hr 11 min·220th Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27
36 mi·38 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward CR E34: Toddville, Robins
14
Turn sharp left onto CR E34
2.8 mi·3 min·County Home Road
15
Enter roundabout onto County Home Road
158 ft·3 sec·County Home Road
16
Continue on County Home Road
1.5 mi·2 min·County Home Road
17
Enter roundabout onto CR E34
132 ft·2 sec·County Home Road
18
Continue on CR E34
12 mi·16 min·County Home Road
19
Continue on CR E34
3.0 mi·5 min·Fairview Road
20
At end of road, turn left onto CR E34
2.7 mi·4 min·County Road E34
21
Continue on CR E34
0.3 mi·30 sec·Elm Street
22
Turn left onto Cemetery Road
41 ft·2 sec·Cemetery Road
23
Turn right onto CR E34
0.3 mi·30 sec·South Elm Street
24
At end of road, turn right onto CR E28
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Main Street
25
Arrive at destination
CR E28
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day commitment, aim for an early morning departure to ensure you have plenty of daylight for the more technical, turn-heavy sections of the drive. You are allotted one stop throughout the 278.7-mile journey, so plan to use it strategically to stretch your legs and refuel. Given that a large portion of your time is spent on 220th Street, keep a steady pace and be prepared for changing road conditions as you navigate away from the main highway stretches. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as the manageable duration allows you to adjust your pace if you encounter local traffic. Always double-check your fuel levels before leaving Sioux City, as the $42 estimate is based on typical consumption for a trip of this length.
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 139.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 2h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.9 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 61 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.4 miles or 2h 48m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Anamosa, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Sioux City, 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 Sioux City, IA
This is one driving day of about 278.7 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Sioux City, 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 165.9 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 0 and 255.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip|~1m in|Court Street
Turn right onto Court Street
Navigation decision point
6
219 mi into trip|~4h 20m in|I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
255.2 mi into trip|~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward CR E34: Toddville, Robins
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR E34: Toddville, Robins
5
255.5 mi into trip|~5h in|CR E34 / County Home Road
Turn sharp left onto CR E34 / County Home Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.57 one way
$87.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg98 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$47.84
$95.68
premium
$4.89
$53.63
$107.27
diesel
$5.61
$61.53
$123.07
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.6
1
$29.26
$13.38
Efficient EV
69.7
0
$24.39
$11.15
EV Truck/SUV
111.5
1
$39.02
$17.84
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Sioux City, IA
Night
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 5 to 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued April 13 at 7:11PM CDT until April 13 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 7:08PM CDT until April 13 at 7:45PM CDT by NWS Des Moines IA
Destination
Anamosa, IA
Night
in Anamosa on Saturday
Local time
9:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 34m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. With only 17% of the trip spent on highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local roads like 220th Street, which accounts for your longest uninterrupted stretch of 165.9 miles. The remainder of the journey utilizes Highway 20 and the Avenue of the Saints to bridge the gaps. Expect the character of the road to shift as you move off major thoroughfares and onto smaller, more technical segments. This is not a monotonous interstate trek, but rather a drive that requires you to stay engaged with the road layout.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.9 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 34m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 219 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Sioux City, IA and Anamosa, IA, road signs point toward Cr E34: Toddville and Robins.
Cr E34: Toddville
255.2 mi in|~4h 59m
Robins
255.2 mi in|~4h 59m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 278.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 165.9 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.
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: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 219 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Anamosa, IA before the return drive.
