This 249.9-mile journey from Storm Lake, IA to Dubuque, IA is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take just under 4 hours to complete. You'll be navigating primarily on local roads, with a modest fuel cost of around $38. The drive offers a turn-heavy local experience, characteristic of the Midwest region you'll be traversing entirely within Iowa. With only one recommended stop, it's a straightforward drive that doesn't require an overnight stay, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway.
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
125.1 miles from Storm Lake, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
234.7 mi
4h 33m
130th Avenue
10.9 mi
14m
West Lakeshore Drive
3.1 mi
7m
US 71
0.2 mi
<1m
Grand Avenue
0.2 mi
<1m
IA 946
0.1 mi
<1m
White Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Locust Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 234.7 mi, about 4h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Storm Lake, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Grand Avenue
2
Continue on West Lakeshore Drive
3.1 mi·7 min·West Lakeshore Drive
3
Continue on US 71
11 mi·14 min·130th Avenue
4
Continue on IA 471
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 71
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
6
Merge onto US 20; US 71
153 mi·2 hr 56 min·US 20; US 71
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 20
8
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
9
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi·20 sec·IA 946
Toward IA 946
10
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft·13 sec·US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
12
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
13
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
14
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
15
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 59-minute duration, leaving Storm Lake in the morning will allow you to reach Dubuque with plenty of daylight. Plan for your single recommended stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as the drive is not on major highways and fuel availability might be more spread out. The turn-heavy nature of this route means you'll want to stay focused, particularly when transitioning between West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, and US 71.
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 125.1 miles from Storm Lake, IA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 234.7 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 55 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.1 miles or 2h 31m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dubuque, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Storm Lake, 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 Storm Lake, IA
This is one driving day of about 250.2 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Storm Lake, 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 US 20 for about 234.7 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.4 and 250.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
14.4 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge
6
249.7 mi into trip|~4h 58m in|US 61; US 151
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
249.7 mi into trip|~4h 58m in
Take the exit toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 189A
Toward White Street, Port of Dubuque
5
250.1 mi into trip|~4h 59m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
250.2 mi into trip|~5h in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.12 one way
$78.23 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$42.95
$85.90
premium
$4.89
$48.15
$96.30
diesel
$5.61
$55.24
$110.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.1
0
$26.27
$12.01
Efficient EV
62.6
0
$21.89
$10.01
EV Truck/SUV
100.1
1
$35.03
$16.01
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Storm Lake, IA
Late night
in Storm Lake on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Tuesday
Local time
4:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
4 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
5h 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 3-hour and 59-minute trip. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter any long, fast stretches. Instead, prepare for a more engaged driving experience on roads like West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, and US 71, which will require your attention with frequent turns. This profile suggests a route that winds through smaller communities and varied terrain rather than a simple interstate cruise.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 234.7 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and 130th Avenue. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 14.4 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 249.7 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 249.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Dubuque, founded in 1833, is the oldest city in Iowa. A port on the upper Mississippi River, it is situated along scenic bluffs facing the river, and has its roots in a mining and trading settlement established in the area by Quebec-born entrepreneur Julien Dubuque in 1788. The city's population is 57,686 (2000 Census), and the estimated population of the Dubuque metropolitan area is 93,072.
The longest stretch is about 234.7 miles on US 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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.
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 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 249.7 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 249.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dubuque, IA before the return drive.
