Walford to Sioux City is 274.8 miles and takes about 5h 28m via US 20 and I-35, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within the Midwest, specifically crossing Iowa. It's a straightforward trip connecting two points in the state, ideal if you're looking for a direct route without many detours. Expect a steady pace for most of the journey, making it a manageable one-day excursion.
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
137.4 miles from Walford, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
145 mi
2h 51m
Lincoln Highway
65.7 mi
1h 16m
I 35
30.4 mi
32m
73rd Street
20.4 mi
23m
30th Avenue
5.8 mi
8m
79th Street
3.5 mi
5m
6th Street
0.9 mi
2m
South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 145 mi, about 2h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Walford, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on B Avenue West
107 ft·6 sec·B Avenue West
2
Turn right onto 3rd Street North
212 ft·9 sec·3rd Street North
3
Turn right onto US 151
0.2 mi·24 sec·Co Trunk Rd E68
4
Continue on US 151
0.1 mi·12 sec·1st Avenue
5
Continue on US 151
1.4 mi·1 min·79th Street
6
Continue on 79th Street
2.1 mi·3 min·79th Street
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on 30th Avenue
1.6 mi·2 min·30th Avenue
8
Continue on Euclid Avenue
0.4 mi·44 sec·Euclid Avenue
9
At end of road, turn right onto Railroad Street
0.3 mi·28 sec·Railroad Street
10
Continue on 30th Avenue
4.2 mi·5 min·30th Avenue
11
Turn left onto US 30; US 218
20 mi·23 min·73rd Street
12
Continue on US 30
66 mi·1 hr 16 min·Lincoln Highway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 35 North: Minneapolis
14
Merge onto I 35
30 mi·32 min·I 35
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward US 20 West: Fort Dodge
16
Merge onto US 20
145 mi·2 hr 51 min·US 20
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
19
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
20
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
21
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
22
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 28-minute drive time, departing in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip comfortably within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you can plan for a single break or push through if you prefer. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 145-mile stretch on US 20, as services might be less frequent than on interstates. The $43 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices before you leave is always wise.
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 137.4 miles from Walford, IA, or about 2h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 145 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 60 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.4 miles or 2h 42m 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 26m
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 Walford, 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 Walford, IA
This is one driving day of about 274.8 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Walford, 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 145 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 274.6 — 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|3rd Street North
Turn right onto 3rd Street North
Navigation decision point
5
6 mi into trip|~10m in|Railroad Street
At end of road, turn right onto Railroad Street
Navigation decision point
5
127.9 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
272.9 mi into trip|~5h 23m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
274.6 mi into trip|~5h 27m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.96 one way
$85.92 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$47.17
$94.34
premium
$4.89
$52.88
$105.77
diesel
$5.61
$60.67
$121.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.4
1
$28.85
$13.19
Efficient EV
68.7
0
$24.04
$10.99
EV Truck/SUV
109.9
1
$38.47
$17.59
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 15, 2026
Origin
Walford, IA
Late night
in Walford on Sunday
Local time
2:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Late night
in Sioux City on Sunday
Local time
2:31 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 28m 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 primarily a highway-focused drive, with 64% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on US 20, which forms the longest uninterrupted stretch at 145 miles. While I-35 is also part of the main roads, the character leans towards the efficiency of US 20. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal changes in road type, allowing for a steady rhythm behind the wheel.
64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 145 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Lincoln Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 3rd Street North.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 28m drive. You will face about 12 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 (3rd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.9 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 145 miles on US 20. 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.
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: near the start (3rd Street North): Navigation decision point; at 6 miles (Railroad Street): Navigation decision point; at 127.9 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sioux City, IA before the return drive.
