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Trip from Sioux City, IA to New Sharon, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 59m

Distance

268 mi

431 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 46m ★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 9m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 25m
8 PM
4h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city ​​in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in Iowa, United States

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown New Sharon, IA, IA

New Sharon, IA

Guilherme Simão

Trip Overview

Sioux City, IA to New Sharon, IA is 268 miles and takes about 4h 59m via I 80, I 29, and State Highway 146, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Iowa. Given its relatively short duration and highway-focused profile, it’s a straightforward drive suited for a single day. You'll be on major interstates for almost the entire journey, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B without much complication.

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

134 miles from Sioux City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 80 154.5 mi 2h 47m
I 29 75.6 mi 1h 21m
State Highway 146 17.9 mi 24m
I 880 16 mi 17m
Floyd Boulevard 0.6 mi 1m
North Main Street 0.5 mi <1m
Court Street 0.3 mi <1m
9th Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 80 — 154.5 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and New Sharon, 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 71 Toward 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 16A Toward I 80 East: Des Moines Use 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 123B Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

45 mi · 49 min · I 80
Use the slight left lane.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn right onto IA 146

18 mi · 24 min · State Highway 146
16

Continue on IA 146

0.5 mi · 42 sec · North Main Street
17

Arrive at destination

IA 146

Trip Plan

For this 4h 59m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. Since it's a single-day trip covering 268 miles, you can comfortably complete it without needing to stop overnight. The longest stretch without a significant break is 154.5 miles on I 80, so plan for a fuel or rest stop before or around that point. Keep an eye on the transition from I 80 to State Highway 146 as you approach New Sharon, as this marks the shift to a different road type.

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 134 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.5 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 59 miles or 1h 6m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 134 miles or 2h 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 1m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Sharon, 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 268 miles and 4h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 154.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Avoca, IA

134 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

Blair, NE

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Audubon, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.5 miles.

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 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 249.2 — 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...
7
249.2 mi into trip | ~4h 33m in

Take the exit toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward IA 146: Grinnell, New Sharon

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.90 one way

$83.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $46.00 $92.01
premium $4.89 $51.57 $103.15
diesel $5.61 $59.17 $118.34

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.4 0 $28.14 $12.86
Efficient EV 67 0 $23.45 $10.72
EV Truck/SUV 107.2 1 $37.52 $17.15

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 20, 2026

Origin

Sioux City, IA

Late night in Sioux City on Tuesday

Local time

5:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Sharon, IA

Late night in New Sharon on Tuesday

Local time

5:29 AM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

41°F

Avoca, IA

134 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

14 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

4h 59m 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 drive is overwhelmingly on highways, with 99% of the route utilizing them. You'll encounter a 154.5-mile stretch on I 80, which means long, uninterrupted cruising. The transition to surface roads happens near the end, as State Highway 146 makes up the final portion. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits on the interstate segments.

99% 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: 154.5 mi on I 80.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 268 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.

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 Sharon, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis and Kansas City.

Minneapolis

189.6 mi in | ~3h 27m | via I 80

Kansas City

189.6 mi in | ~3h 27m | via I 80

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 4h 59m. Total distance: 268 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 154.5 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 Sharon, 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 0.7 miles (Floyd Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 94 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at New Sharon, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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