Winfield, IA to Sioux City, IA is 332.2 miles and takes about 6h 30m via Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest's heartland. Expect a route that feels more like a local drive than a high-speed interstate journey, with a significant portion on less direct roads. It's a manageable one-day drive, perfect for those who prefer a steady pace over covering ground quickly.
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
166.1 miles from Winfield, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
273.4 mi
5h 12m
Highway 20
42.9 mi
53m
160th Street
6.4 mi
7m
State Highway 78
5.2 mi
7m
United States Highway 20
1.9 mi
2m
6th Street
0.9 mi
2m
South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi
1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 273.4 mi, about 5h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winfield, IA and Sioux City, IA.
1
Start on this road
0.1 mi·49 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto South Locust Street
0.1 mi·15 sec·South Locust Street
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·17 sec
4
Turn straight onto IA 78
5.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 78
5
Turn right onto US 218; IA 27
113 mi·2 hr 7 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 20; IA 27
160 mi·3 hr 4 min·Avenue of the Saints
7
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi·7 min·160th Street
8
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi·2 min·United States Highway 20
9
Continue on US 20
43 mi·53 min·Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
10
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South Fairmount Street
Use the right lane.
11
Continue on 6th Street
0.9 mi·2 min·6th Street
12
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Court Street
13
Turn left onto 9th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·9th Street
14
Turn right
115 ft·8 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 30m estimated duration and the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, starting your trip in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop, plan to fuel up before you leave Winfield, IA, as the longest stretch is quite substantial at 273.4 miles. The estimated fuel cost is around $52, so keep an eye on your gauge, especially before heading out onto the longer segments. This route is well-suited for a single-day trip, but the numerous turns mean you should remain attentive to navigation throughout the drive.
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 166.1 miles from Winfield, IA, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 273.4 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 73 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.1 miles or 3h 11m 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 13m
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 Winfield, 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 Winfield, IA
This is one driving day of about 332.2 miles and 6h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Winfield, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 273.4 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 332.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|South Locust Street
Turn right onto South Locust Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
330.3 mi into trip|~6h 25m in|South Fairmount Street
Turn right onto South Fairmount Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
332 mi into trip|~6h 29m in|9th Street
Turn left onto 9th Street
Navigation decision point
5
332.2 mi into trip|~6h 30m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.94 one way
$103.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg116 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$57.02
$114.05
premium
$4.89
$63.93
$127.86
diesel
$5.61
$73.35
$146.69
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
99.7
1
$34.88
$15.95
Efficient EV
83.1
0
$29.07
$13.29
EV Truck/SUV
132.9
1
$46.51
$21.26
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Winfield, IA
Evening
in Winfield on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sioux City, IA
Evening
in Sioux City on Saturday
Local time
8:11 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Waterloo, IA
166 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
1 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
6h 30m 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 drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 15% of the journey on highways. You'll spend much of your time navigating local roads, including stretches of 160th Street, interspersed with segments on the Avenue of the Saints and Highway 20. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 273.4 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a period of more consistent travel before returning to more varied road conditions. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed and direction as you make your way across the state.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 273.4 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near South Locust Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 30m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 8 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 330.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 30m. Total distance: 332.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 273.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (South Locust Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 330.3 miles (South Fairmount Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 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.
