This 168.4-mile drive from Webster City, IA to Dubuque, IA is a straightforward 3-hour and 20-minute journey, perfect for a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, it's an economical option for exploring more of the Midwest. The route is almost entirely highway, making for efficient travel. You'll spend most of your time on US 20, which offers a consistent driving experience. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a simple, no-fuss drive between these two Iowa locations without needing an overnight stop.
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
84.2 miles from Webster City, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 38m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 20
165.8 mi
3h 14m
Superior Street
1.3 mi
2m
Briggs Woods Road
0.3 mi
<1m
IA 946
0.1 mi
<1m
White Street
0.1 mi
<1m
South Locust Street
0.1 mi
<1m
US 61
<0.1 mi
<1m
East 7th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 165.8 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Webster City, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on CR D20
60 ft·5 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn right onto Superior Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Superior Street
3
Continue on IA 17
0.3 mi·33 sec·Briggs Woods Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 20 East
5
Merge onto US 20
84 mi·1 hr 37 min·US 20
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20
81 mi·1 hr 36 min·US 20
7
Turn left onto IA 946
0.1 mi·18 sec·South Locust Street
Use the left lane.
8
Turn straight onto IA 946
0.1 mi·20 sec·IA 946
Toward IA 946
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 61; US 151
418 ft·13 sec·US 61; US 151
Use the left lane.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
11
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
12
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
13
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
14
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 20 minutes, this drive is easily completed in one day. You can depart Webster City in the morning and arrive in Dubuque with plenty of daylight remaining. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The main road, US 20, is straightforward, but always be mindful of local traffic as you approach and leave towns. A quick fuel check before leaving Webster City is advisable, as the longest stretch is quite extensive.
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 84.2 miles from Webster City, IA, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.8 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 37 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.2 miles or 1h 38m 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 42m
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 Webster 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 Webster City, IA
This is one driving day of about 168.4 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Webster 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 US 20 for about 165.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 168.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.5 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 20 East
Navigation decision point
Toward US 20 East
6
167.9 mi into trip|~3h 18m 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
168 mi into trip|~3h 18m 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
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 19m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
168.4 mi into trip|~3h 20m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.33 one way
$52.65 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$28.91
$57.81
premium
$4.89
$32.41
$64.81
diesel
$5.61
$37.18
$74.36
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: 58.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.5
0
$17.68
$8.08
Efficient EV
42.1
0
$14.74
$6.74
EV Truck/SUV
67.4
0
$23.58
$10.78
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Webster City, IA
Late night
in Webster City on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 18 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Late night
in Dubuque on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
37°F
Rain Showers Likely
NW 15 mph59% chanceLive 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
5 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 20m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 99% of the route utilizing major roads. You'll primarily be on US 20 for the longest stretch of 165.8 miles, indicating a consistent and uninterrupted travel experience for the bulk of your journey. The roads are well-maintained and designed for efficient travel, so you can anticipate a smooth ride for most of the 3 hours and 20 minutes. This isn't a route with dramatic scenic shifts; it's about covering ground effectively.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.8 mi on US 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and Superior Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 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 3h 20m 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: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 167.9 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 168 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 165.8 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.
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: at 1.5 miles: Navigation decision point; at 167.9 miles (US 61; US 151): Lane positioning matters here; at 168 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Dubuque, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
