Sioux City, IA to Tripoli, IA is 237.9 miles and takes about 4h 51m via Highway 20 and Larrabee Avenue, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest's generally flat terrain. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on surface roads, with a short stretch on the highway. It's a manageable route for a single day, ideal if you're looking for a direct connection between these two points without extensive planning.
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
118.9 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
220th Street
148.1 mi
2h 50m
Highway 20
39.4 mi
47m
Larrabee Avenue
11.3 mi
13m
United States Highway 20
8.3 mi
10m
Logan Avenue
6.9 mi
8m
University Avenue
3.5 mi
4m
170th Street
3.5 mi
5m
Gordon Drive
3.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 148.1 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Tripoli, 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
148 mi·2 hr 50 min·220th Street
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward CR D18: Cedar Falls
13
Turn left onto Grundy Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Grundy Road
14
Continue on University Avenue
3.5 mi·4 min·University Avenue
15
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
8 ft·0 sec·Greenhill Road
16
Continue on Greenhill Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Greenhill Road
17
Turn left onto IA 27; IA 58
2.7 mi·3 min·Avenue of the Saints
18
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 185Toward US 218 South: WaterlooUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto US 218
0.7 mi·48 sec·Leo P Rooff Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward Broadway Street: Airport
21
Turn left onto Airport Boulevard
0.3 mi·35 sec·Airport Boulevard
22
Turn right onto West Airline Highway
3.0 mi·5 min·West Airline Highway
23
Turn left onto US 63
6.9 mi·8 min·Logan Avenue
24
Continue on US 63
11 mi·13 min·Larrabee Avenue
25
Turn right onto IA 93
3.5 mi·5 min·170th Street
26
Continue on IA 93
0.5 mi·50 sec·7th Avenue Southwest
27
Turn left onto IA 93
0.4 mi·35 sec·South Main Street
28
Arrive at destination
IA 93
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 51m estimated drive time, starting in the morning allows ample time to reach Tripoli before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 148.1-mile stretch on 220th Street, as services might be less frequent. The $36 fuel cost is an estimate, so check current prices before you depart. Since this is a single-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule.
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 118.9 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.1 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 52 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.9 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tripoli, 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 237.9 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 148.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 210.1 — 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
5
206.1 mi into trip|~4h 7m in|Greenhill Road
Enter roundabout onto Greenhill Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
210.1 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 185
Toward US 218 South: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.55 one way
$79.11 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$43.08
$86.17
premium
$5.18
$48.54
$97.09
diesel
$5.35
$50.11
$100.22
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: 83.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.4
0
$24.98
$11.42
Efficient EV
59.5
0
$20.82
$9.52
EV Truck/SUV
95.2
1
$33.31
$15.23
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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 May 10, 2026
Origin
Sioux City, IA
Afternoon
in Sioux City on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Tripoli, IA
Afternoon
in Tripoli on Wednesday
Local time
3:09 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
88°F
Gilbert, IA
119 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
28 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 51m 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 route is mostly surface roads, with only 20% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter a significant 148.1-mile stretch on 220nd Street, indicating long periods of rural cruising. Highway 20 will be your primary artery for a portion of the trip before transitioning to local roads like Larrabee Avenue. Be prepared for a less urban driving experience once you leave the highway.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148.1 mi on 220th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 51m drive. You will face about 17 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
1,358 ft955 ft
Total Climb
347 ft
Total Descent
517 ft
Highest Point
1,358 ft
~68 mi in
Elevation Range
403 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 Tripoli, IA, road signs point toward Cr D18: Cedar Falls and Broadway Street: Airport.
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
The longest stretch is about 148.1 miles on 220th Street. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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.
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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Tripoli, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
