Sioux City, IA to Muscatine, IA is 353 miles and takes about 6h 33m via I 80, I 29, and I 880, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Iowa entirely. It's a straightforward, mostly highway route, making it a practical choice for a single-day drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. Plan for a direct trip with minimal detours, as the majority of your travel will be on interstates.
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
176.5 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
243 mi
4h 23m
I 29
75.6 mi
1h 21m
I 880
16 mi
17m
State Highway 38
9.5 mi
14m
Rose Avenue
2.6 mi
3m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
East 2nd Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 243 mi, about 4h 23m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 68 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,856 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,232
Quietest
2 AM
~179 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Muscatine, 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
76 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 71Toward I 880 East: Des Moines
9
Continue on I 880
16 mi·17 min·I 880
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·43 sec
Exit 16AToward I 80 East: Des MoinesUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 80
95 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
134 mi·2 hr 24 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward US 6 West, IA 38 South: Wilton, Muscatine
15
Turn right onto US 6
2.6 mi·3 min·Rose Avenue
16
Continue on US 6
0.5 mi·43 sec·United States Highway 6
17
Continue on US 6
1.6 mi·2 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
18
Continue on IA 38
9.5 mi·14 min·State Highway 38
19
Continue on US 61 Business; IA 38; IA 92
0.6 mi·1 min·East 2nd Street
20
Enter roundabout onto Mulberry Avenue
14 ft·0 sec·Mulberry Avenue
21
Continue on Mulberry Avenue
355 ft·15 sec·Mulberry Avenue
22
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
360 ft·17 sec·East 3rd Street
23
Turn right onto Walnut Street
157 ft·5 sec·Walnut Street
24
Arrive at destination
Walnut Street
Trip Plan
Given this is a 6.5-hour drive, starting in the morning is advisable to allow ample daylight for your arrival. The route is designed for efficiency, so you might only need one fuel stop, with the estimated cost at $56. The longest continuous driving segment is 243 miles on I 80, so be prepared for that stretch. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time, but aim to leave early enough to avoid driving after dark.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 176.5 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 3h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 243 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 78 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.5 miles or 3h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Muscatine, 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 353 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 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 I 80 for about 243 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 204 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
8
94 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
189.6 mi into trip|~3h 27m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
204 mi into trip|~3h 44m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.88 one way
$117.77 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$64.00
$128.00
premium
$5.26
$73.09
$146.18
diesel
$6.18
$85.87
$171.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$59
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.9
1
$37.07
$16.94
Efficient EV
88.3
1
$30.89
$14.12
EV Truck/SUV
141.2
1
$49.42
$22.59
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Sioux City, IA
Afternoon
in Sioux City on Monday
Local time
3:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Muscatine, IA
Afternoon
in Muscatine on Monday
Local time
3:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive 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
4 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
6h 33m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 drive is nearly all highway, with 98% of the 353 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 243 miles on I 80, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. Expect to see a high density of exits and services along these main corridors. The transition to non-highway driving will be minimal and likely occur only in the final approaches to your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 243 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near 5th Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 353 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Floyd Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,327 ft576 ft
Total Climb
493 ft
Total Descent
1,118 ft
Highest Point
1,327 ft
~100.9 mi in
Elevation Range
752 ft
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 Muscatine, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 353 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 243 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 47 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Muscatine, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 47 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.7 miles (Floyd Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Muscatine, IA before the return drive.
