Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Trip from Sioux City, IA to Conrad, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 5m
Distance
196.4 mi
316 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 53m
★
6 AM
4h 6m
8 AM
4h 32m
10 AM
4h 15m
12 PM
4h 12m
3 PM
4h 16m
5 PM
4h 31m
8 PM
3h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Conrad, IA
cottonbro studio
Trip Overview
Sioux City, IA to Conrad, IA is 196.4 miles and takes about 4h 5m via 220th Street and Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, specifically across Iowa, offering a straightforward trip between two points in the state. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll primarily navigate surface roads, so expect a more relaxed pace than a pure interstate journey. Plan for a single stop to break up the drive, making it an efficient way to travel.
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
98.2 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 115.8 mi | 2h 13m |
| Highway 20 | 39.4 mi | 47m |
| Sanford Avenue | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| 240th Street | 5 mi | 7m |
| State Highway 175 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Gordon Drive | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| County Highway D41 | 2.9 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 115.8 mi, about 2h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Conrad, 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
116 mi
·
2 hr 13 min
·
220th Street
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward CR D35: Eldora, Steamboat Rock
13
Turn right onto County Highway D35
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway D35
14
Turn right onto County Highway S55
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway S55
15
Continue on CR D41
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway D41
16
At end of road, turn left onto IA 175
434 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 175
17
Continue on IA 175
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Edgington Avenue
18
Continue on IA 175
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 175
19
Continue on IA 175
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
240th Street
20
Turn right onto IA 14
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Sanford Avenue
21
Turn left onto CR D67
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
330th Street
22
Continue on CR D67
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
West Center Street
23
Turn left onto North Main Street
74 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is a good idea to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility if you need to make an extra stop or want to linger somewhere briefly. The longest stretch without a major break is 115.8 miles on 220th Street, so keep that in mind for planning your single stop. With a fuel cost estimated around $32, it's an economical trip. Be mindful that the majority of the route is on surface roads, which may mean slower speeds and more local traffic than you'd find on an interstate.
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 98.2 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115.8 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 43 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.2 miles or 2h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Conrad, 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 196.4 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 115.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
98 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 98.2 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Holstein Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
1.5 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 196.4 — 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
5
168.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward CR D35: Eldora, Steamboat Rock
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR D35: Eldora, Steamboat Rock
5
196.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 5m in
|
North Main Street
Turn left onto North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.76 one way
$65.52 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
69 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $35.61 | $71.21 |
| premium | $5.26 | $40.66 | $81.33 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $47.78 | $95.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.9 | 0 | $20.62 | $9.43 |
| Efficient EV | 49.1 | 0 | $17.19 | $7.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 78.6 | 0 | $27.50 | $12.57 |
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Origin
Sioux City, IA
Morning in Sioux City on Monday
Local time
9:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
S 10 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Conrad, IA
Morning in Conrad on Monday
Local time
9:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Lake City, IA
98 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
1 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
4h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 26% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of 115.8 miles on 220th Street before transitioning to other roads like Highway 20 and Sanford Avenue. Expect a rural cruising feel for a significant portion of the trip, rather than fast-paced highway travel. The transition from highway to surface roads will be noticeable as you navigate through smaller communities and open country.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 115.8 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 5m drive. You will face about 13 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,426 ft
1,007 ft
Total Climb
296 ft
Total Descent
490 ft
Highest Point
1,426 ft
~42.1 mi in
Elevation Range
419 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Conrad, IA, road signs point toward Cr D35: Eldora and Steamboat Rock.
Cr D35: Eldora
168.9 mi in
|
~3h 22m
Steamboat Rock
168.9 mi in
|
~3h 22m
About the Cities
Starting in Sioux City, IA
Full guide →Founded 1854
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.
Top landmarks
- • Sergeant Floyd — museum boat in Sioux City, Iowa, United States
- • Woodbury County Courthouse — county courthouse in Sioux City, United States of America
- • St. Boniface Catholic Church — church building in Sioux City, United States of America
Arriving in Conrad, IA
Full guide →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 4h 5m. Total distance: 196.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 115.8 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Conrad, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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