Wellman, IA to Sioux City, IA is 313.3 miles and takes about 5h 53m via I 80, I 29, and I 880, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip across Iowa, staying within the Midwest region and entirely within the state. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a very efficient drive. If you're looking for a direct route with minimal fuss, this trip is a solid choice for a single-day journey.
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
156.7 miles from Wellman, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
188.2 mi
3h 23m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
State Highway 22
12.8 mi
18m
M Avenue
11.9 mi
16m
State Highway 149
5.2 mi
7m
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 188.2 mi, about 3h 23m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,933 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,316
Quietest
2 AM
~175 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wellman, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on this road
135 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto 2nd Street
165 ft·8 sec·2nd Street
3
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
0.3 mi·32 sec·9th Avenue
4
Turn left onto IA 22
0.3 mi·22 sec·6th Street
5
Continue on IA 22
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 22
6
Continue on IA 22
0.4 mi·36 sec·Main Street
7
Turn right onto IA 149
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 149
8
Continue on IA 149
12 mi·16 min·M Avenue
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
10
Merge onto I 80
93 mi·1 hr 41 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
96 mi·1 hr 42 min·I 80
Toward I 80 West: OmahaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 880
17 mi·17 min·I 880
Exit 27Toward I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux CityUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
14
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
16
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
18
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
19
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
21
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
22
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
23
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 53m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning should allow you to reach Sioux City well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a high percentage of highway driving, you can choose to stop whenever you feel the need for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services could be up to 188.2 miles on I 80. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, so you can maintain a flexible pace.
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 156.7 miles from Wellman, IA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 188.2 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 69 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.7 miles or 3h 2m 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 50m
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 Wellman, 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 Wellman, IA
This is one driving day of about 313.3 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Wellman, 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 80 for about 188.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 123.8 and 312.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
123.8 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 West: Omaha
9
219.3 mi into trip|~4h 9m 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
236 mi into trip|~4h 27m 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
312.1 mi into trip|~5h 50m in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
312.8 mi into trip|~5h 52m 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
$46.27 one way
$92.53 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$51.08
$102.16
premium
$4.72
$58.17
$116.34
diesel
$4.80
$59.16
$118.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94
1
$32.90
$15.04
Efficient EV
78.3
0
$27.41
$12.53
EV Truck/SUV
125.3
1
$43.86
$20.05
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Wellman, IA
Evening
in Wellman on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Evening
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
95°F
Sunny
SSW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:32PM CDT until July 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
65°F
Audubon, IA
157 mi in
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 53m 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 drive is almost entirely interstate, with 95% of the route on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 188.2 miles on I 80 before needing to transition. Expect a consistent highway experience for the majority of your travel time. The dense network of exits on these interstates means frequent opportunities for services or changing direction if needed.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 188.2 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 123.8 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 313.3 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 123.8 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.3 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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.
Top landmarks
•Sergeant Floyd — museum boat in Sioux City, Iowa, United States
•Woodbury County Courthouse — county courthouse in Sioux City, United States of America
•St. Boniface Catholic Church — church building in Sioux City, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 313.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 188.2 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 40 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.
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. There are 40 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 123.8 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.3 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 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.
