Sioux City, IA to Hudson, IA is 209.4 miles and takes about 4h 11m via Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Iowa on a mix of surface roads and a limited stretch of highway. It's a straightforward trip that's easy to complete in a single day. You'll find the route manageable, making it a good option for a quick inter-city drive without extensive planning.
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
104.7 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
151.6 mi
2h 54m
Highway 20
39.4 mi
47m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Hudson Road
4 mi
5m
Gordon Drive
3.4 mi
6m
6th Street
0.8 mi
1m
Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
1m
5th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 151.6 mi, about 2h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Hudson, 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
152 mi·2 hr 54 min·220th Street
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward IA 58 South: Hudson Road, Hudson
13
Turn right onto Hudson Road
4.0 mi·5 min·Hudson Road
14
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.4 mi·42 sec·5th Street
15
Turn left onto North Jefferson Street
53 ft·2 sec·North Jefferson Street
16
Arrive at destination
North Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 11m duration, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach your destination before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in planning your timing. The 23% highway share means you'll encounter more local traffic patterns, so stay aware as you transition between road types. Your estimated fuel cost is around $33, so ensure you have enough fuel before starting, especially for the 151.6-mile stretch 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 104.7 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.6 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 46 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 8m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hudson, 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 209.4 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 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 151.6 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 204.7 — 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
204.7 mi into trip|~4h 4m in
Take the exit toward IA 58 South: Hudson Road, Hudson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 58 South: Hudson Road, Hudson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.47 one way
$64.93 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$35.60
$71.20
premium
$4.93
$40.63
$81.25
diesel
$5.60
$46.16
$92.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.99
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.32
$8.38
EV Truck/SUV
83.8
1
$29.32
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Sep 3, 2026
Origin
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Friday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hudson, IA
Late night
in Hudson on Friday
Local time
4:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°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
17 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 11m 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?
This route features a significant portion on surface roads, with only 23% of the drive on highways. You'll spend most of your time cruising on local streets. The longest continuous stretch on surface roads is 151.6 miles on 220th Street. Expect a more rural feel with less high-speed traffic.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.6 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 Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 11m drive. You will face about 10 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.
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
The longest stretch is about 151.6 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 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Hudson, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
