Wilton, IA to Sioux City, IA is 341 miles and takes about 6h 14m via I 80 and I 29, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region from east to west. Expect a straightforward drive primarily on interstate highways, making it a convenient option for a single-day transit. Given its duration and highway focus, this route is best suited for those prioritizing efficient travel between these two points.
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
170.5 miles from Wilton, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
242.4 mi
4h 22m
I 29
75.3 mi
1h 21m
I 880
16.7 mi
17m
Rose Avenue
2.7 mi
4m
West 5th Street
1.1 mi
1m
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
1m
United States Highway 6
0.5 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 242.4 mi, about 4h 22m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 34 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Wilton, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on Maurer Street
318 ft·19 sec·Maurer Street
2
Turn left onto US 6 Hist
1.1 mi·1 min·West 5th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 6
0.5 mi·43 sec·United States Highway 6
4
Continue on US 6
2.7 mi·4 min·Rose Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
147 mi·2 hr 39 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
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.
8
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.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 0BToward I 29 North: Sioux City
10
Merge onto I 29
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 29
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street
12
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Floyd Boulevard
Use the right lane.
13
Turn left onto 5th Street
396 ft·14 sec·5th Street
14
Turn right onto Iowa Street
346 ft·7 sec·Iowa Street
15
Keep slight left at fork onto 6th Street
426 ft·17 sec·6th Street
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
17
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
18
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Wilton to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $52, planning a single refueling break should suffice. The longest continuous stretch on I 80 is over 240 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with extended periods of highway driving. Given this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time based on weather or personal preference.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 170.5 miles from Wilton, IA, or about 3h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 242.4 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 75 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 170.5 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 7m
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 Wilton, 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 Wilton, IA
This is one driving day of about 341 miles and 6h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 miles from Wilton, 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 242.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 151.5 and 340.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
151.5 mi into trip|~2h 47m 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
247 mi into trip|~4h 30m 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
263.7 mi into trip|~4h 48m 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
339.7 mi into trip|~6h 11m in|South Floyd Boulevard
Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
340.5 mi into trip|~6h 12m 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
$50.36 one way
$100.72 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg119 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$55.59
$111.19
premium
$4.72
$63.31
$126.63
diesel
$4.80
$64.39
$128.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$50
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 119.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
102.3
1
$35.81
$16.37
Efficient EV
85.3
0
$29.84
$13.64
EV Truck/SUV
136.4
1
$47.74
$21.82
Gas CO2
119 kg
EV CO2
40 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
Wilton, IA
Evening
in Wilton on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Isolated Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:02PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Evening
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
94°F
Sunny
SSE 5 to 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:31AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Sioux Falls SD
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 16 at 8:02PM CDT until July 18 at 6:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL
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
3 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
6h 14m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 98% highway, meaning you'll spend almost all of your time on interstates. The longest stretch without a major change in direction or highway is 242.4 miles on I 80. You'll encounter a high density of exits on the interstate segments, so be ready to adjust speed frequently if you're not just cruising straight through. Surface roads will only be a minor part of your driving experience here.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 242.4 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 151.5 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 15 significant decision points across 341 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 151.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 247 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.7 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 6h 14m. Total distance: 341 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 242.4 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 47 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 47 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 151.5 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 247 miles (I 880): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 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.
