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
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,170 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,554
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 51 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 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 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
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 SharonUse 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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
$39.58 one way
$79.15 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.69
$87.38
premium
$4.72
$49.76
$99.52
diesel
$4.80
$50.60
$101.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
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, 2026-07-13.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Clear
SSE 0 to 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
New Sharon, IA
Late night
in New Sharon on Sunday
Local time
1:44 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Mostly Clear
WSW 8 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 8:35PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
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.
More Details
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 Effort8/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,356 ft867 ft
Total Climb
524 ft
Total Descent
849 ft
Highest Point
1,356 ft
~134 mi in
Elevation Range
489 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 Sharon, 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 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.
Yes — we found about 35 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 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. There are 35 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.
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.
