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Trip from Sioux City, IA to Story City, IA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 19m

Distance

166 mi

267 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 8m ★
6 AM
3h 20m
8 AM
3h 44m
10 AM
3h 28m
12 PM
3h 26m
3 PM
3h 29m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m

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

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

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Story City, IA, IA

Story City, IA

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Sioux City, IA to Story City, IA covers 166 miles and takes about 3h 19m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 220th Street, Highway 20, I 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 93.4 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.74 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

83 miles from Sioux City, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
220th Street 93.4 mi 1h 47m
Highway 20 39.4 mi 47m
I 35 17.3 mi 18m
United States Highway 20 8.3 mi 10m
Gordon Drive 3.4 mi 6m
Broad Street 1.2 mi 2m
6th Street 0.8 mi 1m
Fairmount Street 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: 220th Street — 93.4 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Story City, 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

93 mi · 1 hr 47 min · 220th Street
12

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 35 South: Des Moines
13

Merge onto I 35

17 mi · 18 min · I 35
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward Story City
15

Turn right onto CR E15

1.2 mi · 2 min · Broad Street
16

Turn right onto Pennsylvania Avenue

51 ft · 2 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
17

Arrive at destination

Pennsylvania Avenue

Trip Plan

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 83 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.4 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 37 miles or 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83 miles or 1h 43m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 45m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Story City, 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 166 miles and 3h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 93.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Ida Grove, IA, IA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ida Grove, IA

83 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

Kingsley, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sac City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83 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 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

Best coffee break · home stretch

KaffeGeita

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Story City, Iowa

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15157332029

Visit website

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

KaffeGeita

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20

Story City, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+15157332029

Visit website

Juniper & Olive Co.

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

Home stretch 4.2 mi from route ~11 min detour $20 to $30

Jewell, Iowa

Hours: Closed

+15155098435

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Red E Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Blink Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

Webster City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

Final third 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour

Fort Dodge, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Story City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 1.9 — 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

4
1.9 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 20 Business / Gordon Drive

Turn left onto US 20 Business / Gordon Drive

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.74 one way

$51.47 round trip

$3.94/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.32 $28.22 $56.44
premium $4.93 $32.21 $64.41
diesel $5.60 $36.59 $73.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.8 0 $17.43 $7.97
Efficient EV 41.5 0 $14.53 $6.64
EV Truck/SUV 66.4 0 $23.24 $10.62

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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 Aug 30, 2026

Origin

Sioux City, IA

Morning in Sioux City on Sunday

Local time

8:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Partly Cloudy

SSE 5 mph 4% chance Live forecast

Destination

Story City, IA

Morning in Story City on Sunday

Local time

8:01 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 9 mph 5% chance 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

2 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

3h 19m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

166 mi in 3h 19m — 39% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: 220th Street.

39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.4 mi on 220th Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 19m drive. You will face about 11 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,474 ft 1,007 ft

Total Climb

533 ft

Total Descent

726 ft

Highest Point

1,474 ft

~59.3 mi in

Elevation Range

467 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Sioux City, IA

Full guide →

Founded 1854

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

Arriving in Story City, IA

Full guide →

Founded 1881

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 3h 19m. Total distance: 166 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (39%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 93.4 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Story City, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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