Williamsburg to Dubuque is 110 miles and takes about 2 hours 17 minutes via US 151, I 80, and State Highway 1, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward trip, primarily on well-maintained highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points without significant detours or complex navigation.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.9 miles from Williamsburg, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 151
49.7 mi
58m
I 80
25.6 mi
28m
State Highway 1
15.5 mi
21m
Highway 1 Northeast
10.7 mi
14m
1st Avenue South
1.5 mi
2m
South Market Street
1.4 mi
2m
State Highway 149
1.3 mi
2m
US 61
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 151
— 49.7 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Williamsburg, IA and Dubuque, IA.
1
Start on Court Street
142 ft·11 sec·Court Street
2
Turn left onto West Welsh Street
399 ft·13 sec·West Welsh Street
3
Turn left onto IA 149
0.4 mi·34 sec·South Highland Street
4
Continue on IA 149
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 149
5
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto I 80
26 mi·28 min·I 80
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward IA 1: Mount Vernon
8
Turn left onto IA 1
0.7 mi·1 min·North Dodge Street
9
Continue on IA 1
7.5 mi·10 min·Highway 1 Northeast
10
Continue on IA 1
1.4 mi·2 min·South Market Street
11
Continue on IA 1
3.2 mi·4 min·Highway 1 Northeast
12
Continue on IA 1
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 1
13
Enter roundabout onto IA 1
132 ft·5 sec·State Highway 1
14
Continue on IA 1
0.1 mi·18 sec·State Highway 1
15
Continue on IA 1
1.5 mi·2 min·1st Avenue South
16
Continue on IA 1
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 1
17
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
18
Merge onto US 151
45 mi·51 min·US 151
19
Keep slight left at fork onto US 151
5.1 mi·7 min·US 151
20
Keep slight left at fork onto US 61; US 151
1.1 mi·1 min·US 61; US 151
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 189AToward White Street, Port of Dubuque
22
Continue on White Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·White Street
23
Turn left onto East 7th Street
284 ft·19 sec·East 7th Street
24
Turn left onto Central Avenue
31 ft·1 sec·Central Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Central Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 2 hours and 17 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering flexibility for departure times. You'll want to plan your departure to take advantage of daylight, especially considering the 109.7-mile distance. There are no specific stop recommendations provided, so you can decide on your own pace for breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major town is nearly 50 miles on US 151, so ensure you're fueled up before that segment.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 54.9 miles from Williamsburg, IA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.7 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 24 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.9 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
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 Williamsburg, 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 Williamsburg, IA
This is one driving day of about 109.7 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Williamsburg, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 151 for about 49.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 109.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|West Welsh Street
Turn left onto West Welsh Street
Navigation decision point
5
46.3 mi into trip|~58m in|IA 1 / State Highway 1
Enter roundabout onto IA 1 / State Highway 1
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
109.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m 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
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|East 7th Street
Turn left onto East 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|Central Avenue
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.15 one way
$34.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg38 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.83
$37.66
premium
$4.89
$21.11
$42.22
diesel
$5.61
$24.22
$48.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.9
0
$11.52
$5.27
Efficient EV
27.4
0
$9.60
$4.39
EV Truck/SUV
43.9
0
$15.36
$7.02
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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 15, 2026
Origin
Williamsburg, IA
Night
in Williamsburg on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dubuque, IA
Night
in Dubuque on Saturday
Local time
11:19 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Mount Vernon, IA
55 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
25 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
2h 17m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 95% of the journey taking place on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 49.7 miles on US 151, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The route begins on I 80 before transitioning to US 151, which forms the backbone of this journey. Expect a smooth, relatively uninterrupted driving experience with minimal exposure to slower, local roads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.7 mi on US 151.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 151 and I 80. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near West Welsh Street.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 109.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Welsh Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.3 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 109.3 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 109.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m 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 49.7 miles on US 151. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (West Welsh Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.3 miles (IA 1 / State Highway 1): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 109.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dubuque, IA before heading back.
