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Trip from Villisca, IA to Sioux City, 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 15m

Distance

164.5 mi

265 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 4m ★
6 AM
3h 16m
8 AM
3h 39m
10 AM
3h 24m
12 PM
3h 22m
3 PM
3h 25m
5 PM
3h 38m
8 PM
3h 9m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Villisca, IA, IA

Villisca, IA

Tom Fisk

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

Sioux City, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 164.5-mile drive from Villisca to Sioux City, Iowa, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 3 hours and 15 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-29 and US-71, with a brief segment on I-80, this route is almost entirely highway driving, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $25, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so plan for a smooth, efficient transit between these two Iowa communities.

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

82.2 miles from Villisca, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 29 75.3 mi 1h 21m
US 71 32.6 mi 44m
I 80 26.9 mi 28m
I 880 16.7 mi 17m
590th Street 5 mi 6m
State Highway 83 1.9 mi 2m
East 7th Street 1.4 mi 3m
Marne Road 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 29 — 75.3 mi, about 1h 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East 3rd Street

0.5 mi · 54 sec · East 3rd Street
2

At end of road, turn right onto South U Avenue

0.4 mi · 57 sec · South U Avenue
3

Turn left onto West High Street

323 ft · 10 sec · West High Street
4

Turn right onto US 71

33 mi · 44 min · US 71
5

Turn left onto US 6; IA 83

1.4 mi · 3 min · East 7th Street
6

Turn right onto Walnut Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Walnut Street
7

Turn left onto East 2nd Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · East 2nd Street
8

Continue on IA 83

0.9 mi · 1 min · Marne Road
9

Continue on IA 83

1.9 mi · 2 min · State Highway 83
10

Turn right onto IA 173

5.0 mi · 6 min · 590th Street
11

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
12

Merge onto I 80

27 mi · 28 min · I 80
13

Keep slight right at fork onto I 880

17 mi · 17 min · I 880
Exit 27 Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City Use the slight right lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 0B Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
15

Merge onto I 29

75 mi · 1 hr 21 min · I 29
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
17

Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
18

Turn left onto 5th Street

396 ft · 14 sec · 5th Street
19

Turn right onto Iowa Street

346 ft · 7 sec · Iowa Street
20

Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street

426 ft · 17 sec · 6th Street
Use the left lane.
21

Turn right onto Court Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Court Street
22

Turn left onto 9th Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · 9th Street
23

Turn right

115 ft · 8 sec
24

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 3 hour and 15 minute duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion. You'll want to start your journey with a full tank of gas, as the longest stretch without a major exit opportunity is 75.3 miles on I-29. While only one official stop is suggested, consider an early break around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The estimated fuel cost of $25 makes this an affordable trip, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially during that long stretch on I-29.

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 82.2 miles from Villisca, IA, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.3 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 36 miles or 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 82.2 miles or 1h 44m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sioux City, IA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Villisca, 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 Villisca, IA

This is one driving day of about 164.5 miles and 3h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Villisca, 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 29 for about 75.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Council Bluffs, IA

82 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

Atlantic, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Council Bluffs, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.2 miles from Villisca, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 29 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75.3 miles.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Downtowner Café & Catering

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Atlantic, Iowa

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 35.2

Hours: 7:30 am–2:30 pm

+17122432183

Farmers Walnut Street Diner

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Atlantic, Iowa

0.1 mi

The Rialto Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Villisca, Iowa

0.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

coffeegirl

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Atlantic, Iowa

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 35.2

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17122501539

Visit website

Downtowner Café & Catering

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 35.2

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 7:30 am–2:30 pm

+17122432183

Farmers Walnut Street Diner

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 35.2

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+17122508336

The Rialto Cafe

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Villisca, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+17128269342

The Flour Mill - Atlantic

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 35.2

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17122437797

The Embers Restaurant and Lounge

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 58.7

Avoca, Iowa

Hours: 6:30 am–9 pm

+17123432419

Visit website

Touchdown Beer & Grill

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 35.2

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+17122508547

Visit website

La Isla

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30 mile 164.5

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+14024048022

Visit website

Minden Bowl Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 70.5

Minden, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–2 pm

+17124832512

Visit website

coffeegirl

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 35.2

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+17122501539

Visit website

Neighbors Coffee Shop & Café

Early in the drive, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 35.2

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–4:30 pm

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

3.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 58.7

Avoca, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 164.5

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18006360986

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 164.5

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 164.5

South Sioux City, Nebraska

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 164.5

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 164.5

Sioux City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

5 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 164.5

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 164.5

Sioux City, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Fireside Lounge

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 35.2

Atlantic, Iowa

Hours: 12 pm–2 am

+17122432426

Hayloft

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $1 to $10 mile 11.7

Grant, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–9 pm

+17127634425

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 163.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.5 mi into trip | ~0m in | South U Avenue

At end of road, turn right onto South U Avenue

Navigation decision point

9
70.5 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in | I 880

Keep slight right at fork onto I 880 toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 27 Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City
6
87.2 mi into trip | ~1h 49m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 29 North: Sioux City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 0B Toward I 29 North: Sioux City
6
163.2 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in | South Floyd Boulevard

Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
163.9 mi into trip | ~3h 13m in | 6th Street

Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.72 one way

$51.44 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $28.24 $56.47
premium $4.89 $31.66 $63.31
diesel $5.61 $36.32 $72.64

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: 57.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 49.4 0 $17.27 $7.90
Efficient EV 41.1 0 $14.39 $6.58
EV Truck/SUV 65.8 0 $23.03 $10.53

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 Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Villisca, IA

Late night in Villisca on Sunday

Local time

3:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Sioux City, IA

Late night in Sioux City on Sunday

Local time

3:10 AM

CDT

Current temp

49°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

26 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 15m 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?

Expect a highway-focused experience for 93% of this 164.5-mile trip. The bulk of your travel will be on I-29, featuring a continuous stretch of 75.3 miles. While I-80 and US-71 offer some variation, the overall character is one of efficient transit rather than winding scenic byways. This route prioritizes getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, making it a dependable choice for consistent travel.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.3 mi on I 29.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 29 and US 71. 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 South U Avenue.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 164.5 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 (South U Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

About the Cities

Arriving 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 15m. Total distance: 164.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 75.3 miles on I 29. 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.

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 Sioux City, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (South U Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 70.5 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 87.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Sioux 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Sioux City, IA to Villisca, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

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