The drive from Sioux City, IA to New London, IA covers 346.8 miles and takes about 6h 32m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 80, IA 163, I 29 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 95.2 miles on I 80.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $53.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
173.4 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
95.2 mi
1h 42m
IA 163
77.6 mi
1h 29m
I 29
75.6 mi
1h 21m
IA 5
51.3 mi
58m
I 880
16 mi
17m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi
14m
US 34
5.3 mi
6m
I 35
3.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 95.2 mi, about 1h 42m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 24 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,583 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,923
Quietest
2 AM
~131 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 94 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 New London, 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
0.3 mi·18 sec·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto Ramp 72 H
0.4 mi·51 sec·Ramp 72 H
Exit 123BToward I 35 South: Kansas City
14
Merge onto I 35
3.8 mi·4 min·I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 68Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, NorwalkUse the slight right lane.
16
Continue on IA 5
13 mi·14 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto IA 5
19 mi·22 min·IA 5
Toward IA 5 South: Carlisle
18
Turn left onto IA 5; IA 92
32 mi·36 min·IA 5; IA 92
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
20
Merge onto IA 163
78 mi·1 hr 29 min·IA 163
21
Merge onto US 34; US 218; IA 27; IA 163
2.3 mi·2 min·Avenue of the Saints
22
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 34; IA 163
Exit 42Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
23
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
5.0 mi·6 min·US 34; IA 163
Exit 42Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
24
Turn left onto 260th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·260th Street
25
Continue on West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
26
Turn left onto North Oak Street
447 ft·24 sec·North Oak Street
27
Turn left
71 ft·5 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
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 173.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 3h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.2 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 76 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.4 miles or 3h 10m 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 New London, 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 346.8 miles and 6h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 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 95.2 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 339.7 — 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.
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...
8
194.1 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Take the exit toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 68
Toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport,...
7
339.7 mi into trip|~6h 22m in|US 34; IA 163
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.77 one way
$107.54 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$58.96
$117.91
premium
$4.93
$67.28
$134.57
diesel
$5.60
$76.45
$152.89
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104
1
$36.41
$16.65
Efficient EV
86.7
0
$30.35
$13.87
EV Truck/SUV
138.7
1
$48.55
$22.20
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% 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 Sep 1, 2026
Origin
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Wednesday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New London, IA
Late night
in New London on Wednesday
Local time
1:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 32m 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?
346.8 mi in 6h 32m, mostly highway — 95.2 mi of that is on I 80.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and IA 163. 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 Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 346.8 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 94 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,345 ft697 ft
Total Climb
571 ft
Total Descent
1,002 ft
Highest Point
1,345 ft
~99.1 mi in
Elevation Range
649 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 New London, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Norwalk.
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 32m. Total distance: 346.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.2 miles on I 80. 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.
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 New London, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (5th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 189.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 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 New London, IA before the return drive.
