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Trip from Sioux City, IA to Hartley, 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 41m

Distance

78 mi

126 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min
4 AM
1h 34m ★
6 AM
1h 42m
8 AM
1h 57m
10 AM
1h 47m
12 PM
1h 46m
3 PM
1h 48m
5 PM
1h 56m
8 PM
1h 37m

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

human settlement in O'Brien County, Iowa, United States of America

Hartley, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Sioux City, IA to Hartley, IA is 78 miles and takes about 1 hour 41 minutes via IA 60 and US 75 Business, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive keeps you within Iowa the entire time, transitioning from the Midwest's familiar landscapes to more rural settings. It’s a short hop, perfect for a quick trip or a connection to other regional adventures. Given its brevity, you won't encounter major logistical challenges, making it an easy addition to your travel plans.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

39 miles from Sioux City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
IA 60 34.4 mi 39m
US 75 Business 24.3 mi 31m
320th Street 16.3 mi 22m
11th Street 0.7 mi 1m
US-18 0.6 mi 1m
Terminal Drive 0.4 mi <1m
North Central Avenue 0.3 mi 1m
9th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: IA 60 — 34.4 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

115 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto 9th Street

0.2 mi · 48 sec · 9th Street
3

Turn left onto Court Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Court Street
4

Turn right onto 11th Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · 11th Street
5

Turn left

0.2 mi · 27 sec
6

Continue on Terminal Drive

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Terminal Drive
7

Turn right onto 18th Street

239 ft · 8 sec · 18th Street
8

Turn left onto US 75 Business

3.3 mi · 4 min · US 75 Business
Use the straight lane.
9

Take the ramp onto US 75 Business

21 mi · 26 min · US 75 Business
10

Continue on IA 60

34 mi · 39 min · IA 60
Toward IA 60 North: Sheldon Use the straight lane.
11

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
Toward US 18: Spencer
12

Turn right onto US 18

7.5 mi · 10 min · 320th Street
13

Continue on US 18

0.6 mi · 1 min · US-18
14

Continue on US 18

8.8 mi · 12 min · 320th Street
15

Turn right onto North Central Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · North Central Avenue
16

Turn left onto 1st Street Southeast

26 ft · 1 sec · 1st Street Southeast
17

Arrive at destination

1st Street Southeast

Trip Plan

Since this is a short drive of just 1 hour and 41 minutes, you have the flexibility to leave anytime. Aim to depart mid-morning to avoid any potential rush hour in Sioux City and allow ample time to reach Hartley. With only 78 miles, you likely won't need formal rest stops, but it's always a good idea to fill up your tank before leaving Sioux City, especially since the fuel cost is estimated at only $12. Keep an eye out for signs directing you onto US 75 Business as you near Hartley.

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 39 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 17 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39 miles or 50m 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartley, 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 78 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Sioux City, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on IA 60 for about 34.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

human settlement in Sioux County, Iowa, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Alton, IA

39 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

Le Mars, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Alton, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 60.3 — 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 left onto Court Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | 11th Street

Turn right onto 11th Street

Navigation decision point

5
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 75 Business

Turn left onto US 75 Business

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
60.3 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in

Take the exit toward US 18: Spencer

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward US 18: Spencer

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.19 one way

$24.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.39 $26.78
premium $4.89 $15.01 $30.02
diesel $5.61 $17.22 $34.44

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.4 0 $8.19 $3.74
Efficient EV 19.5 0 $6.82 $3.12
EV Truck/SUV 31.2 0 $10.92 $4.99

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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 18, 2026

Origin

Sioux City, IA

Night in Sioux City on Saturday

Local time

11:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

29°F

Clear

WNW 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Hartley, IA

Night in Hartley on Saturday

Local time

11:23 PM

CDT

Current temp

26°F

Clear

WNW 15 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Red Flag Warning

Red Flag Warning issued April 18 at 2:33AM CDT until April 18 at 8:00PM CDT by NWS Omaha/Valley NE

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 10:38PM CDT until April 24 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

47°F

Alton, IA

39 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

3 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

1h 41m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 predominantly highway-focused, with 76% of the journey utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 34.4 miles on IA 60 without needing to divert, offering a consistent pace. The drive transitions from the primary highway to business routes and local streets as you approach your destination, providing a gradual shift in scenery and speed. Expect a straightforward driving experience with minimal complexity.

76% 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: 34.4 mi on IA 60.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on IA 60 and US 75 Business. 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 1h 41m 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 (11th Street): Navigation decision point.

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 41m. Total distance: 78 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (76%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on IA 60. 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 0.4 miles (11th Street): Navigation decision point.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hartley, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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