Origin
Sioux City, IA
Night in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
11:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux City, IA to Washington, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
176.8 mi
285 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 20m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux City, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Washington, IA
Paula Nardini
Trip Overview
This 176.8-mile drive from Sioux City, IA to Washington, IA is a straightforward, single-day trip taking approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, it's an economical journey primarily through the Midwest. The route utilizes a mix of roads, including 220th Street and I-35, with 43% being highway driving. This makes it a manageable option for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. The overall feel is practical and efficient, ideal for those looking to cover ground comfortably.
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
88.4 miles from Sioux City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 93.8 mi | 1h 48m |
| Highway 20 | 39.4 mi | 47m |
| I 35 | 22.8 mi | 24m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 3 | 6.3 mi | 8m |
| Gordon Drive | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| 6th Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Fairmount Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 93.8 mi, about 1h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux City, IA and Washington, 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
94 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
220th Street
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 35 North: Mason City
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 35
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 35
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
15
Turn right onto IA 3
6.3 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 3
16
Arrive at destination
IA 3
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour and 32 minute duration, starting your trip in the morning is recommended to allow ample time for travel and any brief stops. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to decide when and where to pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 93.8-mile stretch on 220th Street, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $28 provides a good budget baseline for this 176.8-mile journey across Iowa.
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 88.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.8 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 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.4 miles or 1h 49m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington, 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 176.8 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 93.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.4 miles from Sioux City, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 93.8 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 170.1 — 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
6
147 mi into trip
|
~2h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 35 North: Mason City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 35 North: Mason City
5
170.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 3: Hampton, Clarion
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.64 one way
$55.28 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $30.35 | $60.70 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.02 | $68.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.04 | $78.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53 | 0 | $18.56 | $8.49 |
| Efficient EV | 44.2 | 0 | $15.47 | $7.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.7 | 0 | $24.75 | $11.32 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Washington, IA
Night in Washington on Saturday
Local time
11:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
19 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
3h 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll experience a mixed drive on this route, offering variety in your journey. While 43% of the drive is on highways, you'll also navigate local roads like 220th Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 93.8 miles on 220th Street, providing a solid segment of consistent driving before transitioning. This blend of road types means you won't be stuck in monotonous interstate travel the entire time, offering a more engaging driving experience as you progress from Sioux City towards Washington.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 93.8 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 32m drive. You will face about 10 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
1,365 ft
1,106 ft
Total Climb
330 ft
Total Descent
331 ft
Highest Point
1,365 ft
~25.3 mi in
Elevation Range
259 ft
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 3h 32m. Total distance: 176.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 93.8 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Washington, 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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