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Trip from Sioux City, IA to Belmond, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 33m

Distance

172 mi

277 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 21m ★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city ​​in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in Iowa, United States

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Belmond, IA, IA

Belmond, IA

Uiliam Nörnberg

Trip Overview

This 172-mile drive from Sioux City, IA to Belmond, IA is a straightforward, one-day trip, estimated to take about 3 hours and 33 minutes. With a projected fuel cost of $27, it's an economical journey through the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads and Highway 20, with a relatively low highway share of 32%. This drive is well-suited for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule without needing an overnight stop. You'll experience a mixed driving profile, making it an engaging, yet not overly demanding, excursion.

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

86 miles from Sioux City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
220th Street 90.6 mi 1h 44m
Highway 20 39.4 mi 47m
Little Wall Lake Road 19.7 mi 26m
United States Highway 20 8.3 mi 10m
US 69 8 mi 11m
Gordon Drive 3.4 mi 6m
6th Street 0.8 mi 1m
Fairmount Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: 220th Street — 90.6 mi, about 1h 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Belmond, 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

90 mi · 1 hr 43 min · 220th Street
12

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 55 sec
Toward US 69
13

Turn left onto US 69

20 mi · 26 min · Little Wall Lake Road
14

Turn right onto US 69; IA 3

0.8 mi · 1 min · 220th Street
15

Turn straight onto US 69; IA 3

8.0 mi · 11 min · US 69; IA 3
16

Turn right onto East Main Street

0.1 mi · 35 sec · East Main Street
17

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast

61 ft · 2 sec · 2nd Avenue Northeast
18

Arrive at destination

2nd Avenue Northeast

Trip Plan

For this 172-mile journey, you can easily complete the drive in a single day. Consider an early morning departure from Sioux City to maximize daylight and allow for a leisurely pace, especially given the longest stretch of 90.6 miles. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to decide when and where you'd like to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $27 estimated cost is based on the full trip, and it's always wise to refuel before embarking on longer, less populated stretches like the one on 220th Street.

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 86 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 1h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.6 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 38 miles or 50m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 86 miles or 1h 47m 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 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belmond, 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 172 miles and 3h 33m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 90.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Storm Lake, IA

86 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Ida Grove, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 90.6 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 171.9 — 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

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | 7th Street

Turn left onto 7th Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | Iowa Street

Turn right onto Iowa Street

Navigation decision point

5
171.9 mi into trip | ~3h 33m in | 2nd Avenue Northeast

Turn left onto 2nd Avenue Northeast

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.89 one way

$53.78 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $29.52 $59.05
premium $4.89 $33.10 $66.20
diesel $5.61 $37.98 $75.95

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: 60.2 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 51.6 0 $18.06 $8.26
Efficient EV 43 0 $15.05 $6.88
EV Truck/SUV 68.8 0 $24.08 $11.01

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 15, 2026

Origin

Sioux City, IA

Night in Sioux City on Saturday

Local time

9:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Belmond, IA

Night in Belmond on Saturday

Local time

9:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

3h 33m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed drive on this route, which features 32% highway travel. The majority of your time will be spent on local roads, including 220th Street and Little Wall Lake Road, interspersed with stretches of Highway 20. The longest uninterrupted driving segment is 90.6 miles on 220th Street, offering a substantial period of consistent travel before any significant turns. This road character suggests a varied experience, moving from potentially faster highway sections to more local, perhaps slower, pacing on the county roads.

32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.6 mi on 220th Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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 early in the drive near 9th Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 33m drive. You will face about 11 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 0.4 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 172 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (32%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 90.6 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.

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: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (7th Street): Navigation decision point.

Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Belmond, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Belmond, IA to Sioux City, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

171.7 mi 3h 32m

Explore more options from Sioux City, IA or browse trips ending in Belmond, IA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.