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Trip from Sioux City, IA to Carter Lake, IA

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

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

96.6 mi

156 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city ​​in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in Iowa, United States

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States

Carter Lake, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 96.6-mile journey from Sioux City, IA, to Carter Lake, IA, is easily managed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 91% of the drive on major interstates like I-29 and I-680, along with John J Pershing Drive. Expect a fuel cost of around $15 for this drive. Given its efficiency and lack of designated stops, it's a practical option for getting between these two Midwest locations without needing an overnight stay. This trip keeps you within Iowa for its entirety, offering a simple transit experience.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

48.3 miles from Sioux City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 29 84.9 mi 1h 31m
I 680 2.8 mi 3m
John J Pershing Drive 2.4 mi 5m
North 16th Street 2.2 mi 5m
Locust Street 1 mi 2m
Floyd Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
North 9th Street 0.4 mi 1m
Dick Collins Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 29 — 84.9 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Court Street
4

Turn left onto 5th Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · 5th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5

Turn right onto Floyd Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Floyd Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 29 South
7

Merge onto I 29

85 mi · 1 hr 31 min · I 29
8

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I 680 West: North Omaha
9

Merge onto I 680

2.8 mi · 3 min · I 680
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Exit 13 Toward 30th Street, Eppley Airfield
11

Turn left onto L-28H

0.2 mi · 26 sec · North 31st Street
12

Turn left onto Dick Collins Road

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Dick Collins Road
Use the left lane.
13

At end of road, turn right onto John J Pershing Drive

2.4 mi · 5 min · John J Pershing Drive
14

Turn right onto North 16th Street

2.2 mi · 5 min · North 16th Street
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn left onto Locust Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Locust Street
16

Turn left onto North 9th Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North 9th Street
17

Arrive at destination

North 9th Street

Trip Plan

With a total duration of under two hours and no recommended stops, this route offers significant flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, knowing the 96.6-mile trip won't consume your entire day. The primary roads are I-29 and I-680, so be mindful of maintaining appropriate speeds and staying aware of traffic conditions, especially during peak hours. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, it's an economical trip, but it's always wise to ensure your tank is full before embarking on the longest stretch of 84.9 miles on I-29 to avoid any unnecessary detours for gas.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.3 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 21 miles or 25m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 48.3 miles or 54m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carter Lake, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sioux City, IA

This is one driving day of about 96.6 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Sioux City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 29 for about 84.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in and the county seat of Washington County, Nebraska, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blair, NE

48 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

Sloan, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tekamah, NE

Meal break

The midpoint is around 48.3 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 I 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 84.9 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Harold's Koffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Omaha, Nebraska

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 89.7

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+14024519776

Visit website

Mercy Thai Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Council Bluffs, Iowa

1.9 mi

Jackson's Fair Deal Café

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Omaha, Nebraska

1.7 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Café Postale

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Omaha, Nebraska

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 96.6

Hours: Closed

+14022845019

Visit website

Harold's Koffee House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 89.7

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 6:30 am–2 pm

+14024519776

Visit website

Mercy Thai Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 96.6

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–2:30 pm

+17128284200

Visit website

Jackson's Fair Deal Café

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+15314448393

Visit website

Fig.

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+15319991284

Visit website

Tish's Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 96.6

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17123235456

Visit website

Monarch Restaurant

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $50 to $10 mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 7–10 am

+14029910660

Visit website

Runza Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 96.6

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Hours: 10:30 am–10 pm

+17123228935

Visit website

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

Café Postale

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $1 to $10 mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: Closed

+14022845019

Visit website

Edge of the Universe Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20 mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+14029906064

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 6.9

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 6.9

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 6.9

Sioux City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.6 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, NE

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Lewis & Clark Landing at The RiverFront

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+14025996565

Visit website

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

+14026611804

Visit website

Heartland of America Park at The RiverFront

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 5 am–11 pm

+14025996565

Visit website

The Old Market

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–1:30 pm

+14023464445

Visit website

Museum Of Shadows

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 96.6

Omaha, Nebraska

Hours: 2–10 pm

+14028857557

Visit website

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 90 — 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
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | 5th Street

Turn left onto 5th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in | Floyd Boulevard

Turn right onto Floyd Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
6
90 mi into trip | ~1h 40m in

Take the exit toward 30th Street, Eppley Airfield

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 13 Toward 30th Street, Eppley Airfield

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$15.10 one way

$30.20 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $16.58 $33.16
premium $4.89 $18.59 $37.18
diesel $5.61 $21.33 $42.66

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 33.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 29 0 $10.14 $4.64
Efficient EV 24.2 0 $8.45 $3.86
EV Truck/SUV 38.6 0 $13.52 $6.18

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (68% 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

Afternoon in Sioux City on Sunday

Local time

12:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Carter Lake, IA

Afternoon in Carter Lake on Sunday

Local time

12:52 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°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

27 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

1h 55m 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 highway-focused drive for the most part, with 91% of the 96.6 miles on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 84.9 miles on I-29, indicating long periods of consistent speed. This means you'll likely experience a steady pace with minimal need for frequent slowdowns or complex navigation. The character of the drive is predominantly that of efficient travel, designed for covering distance quickly rather than exploring roadside attractions.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.9 mi on I 29.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and I 680. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

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 0.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,200 ft 976 ft

Total Climb

0 ft

Total Descent

225 ft

Highest Point

1,200 ft

Elevation Range

225 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 Sioux City, IA to Carter Lake, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Eppley Airfield along the way.

Eppley Airfield

90 mi in | ~1h 40m

About the Cities

Starting in Sioux City, IA

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 96.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 84.9 miles on I 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Court Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carter Lake, IA before heading back.

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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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