How far is Altoona, IA from Sioux City, IA?

The driving distance from Altoona, IA to Sioux City, IA is about 211.2 miles (339.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 161.7 miles (260.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 32m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
211.23 mi
03h 16m
Flight
161.75 mi
260.31 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Altoona.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
161.75 mi
Kilometers
260.31 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
211.23 mi
Kilometers
339.94 km
Drive Time
03h 16m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sioux City
Wed, Apr 15, 6:16 PM CDT
Return by in Altoona
Wed, Apr 15, 9:33 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Altoona
2026-04-15T15:00
Arrive Sioux City
Wed, Apr 15, 6:16 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Altoona
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Avoca
IA

City in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States of America

From Altoona
104.8 mi
01h 38m
To Sioux City
106.4 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Overnight

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph ENE
Destination
73°F
Today

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph NE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Altoona and Sioux City.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Altoona and Sioux City.

  1. 1

    Start on 1st Avenue South

    15 m · 3 sec · 1st Avenue South

  2. 2

    Turn right onto 8th Street Southwest

    2.3 mi · 4 min · 8th Street Southwest

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    1546 ft · 40 sec

  4. 4

    Continue straight

    1997 ft · 49 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

    1023 ft · 13 sec · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs

    1.2 mi · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    16.1 mi · 19 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight right to continue on I 880 West: North Omaha, Sioux City

    16.7 mi · 18 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 29 North: Sioux City

    2271 ft · 39 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    75.3 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street

    1582 ft · 43 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard

    3174 ft · 1 min · South Floyd Boulevard

  14. 14

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    121 m · 15 sec · 5th Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Iowa Street

    105 m · 7 sec · Iowa Street

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on 6th Street

    130 m · 17 sec · 6th Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Court Street

    1199 ft · 39 sec · Court Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    990 ft · 46 sec · 9th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right

    35 m · 9 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Altoona and Sioux City.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
20 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 West
113 mi · 53%
I 29 North
75.8 mi · 36%
I 880 West
16.7 mi · 8%
8th Street Southwest
2.98 mi · 1%
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
Floyd Boulevard
0.3 mi
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

95.5 mi · 01h 43m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.5 mi
161.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Avoca
01h 38m from Altoona
Leave By
10:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Altoona and Chance Rain Showers near Sioux City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Altoona to Sioux City?

The road trip is about 211.2 miles (339.9 km) and usually takes 03h 16m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Avoca is a useful midpoint, sitting about 104.8 miles from Altoona and 106.4 miles from Sioux City.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 161.7 miles (260.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.09 one way or $56.19 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Altoona and Chance Rain Showers near Sioux City.

Stop Ideas Near Avoca

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Avoca, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Avoca.

RAIL

Omaha

55 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Creston

94 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Altoona and Sioux City. Straight-line distance: 161.75 mi (260.31 km).

Altoona

#1 Altoona

City in Polk County, Iowa, United States

Population19,503
Coordinates41.6441600, -93.4646600
Altitude291
CountryUnited States
Sioux City

#2 Sioux City

The second most populous city in Iowa.

Population82,651
Coordinates42.4999900, -96.4003100
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: 1st Avenue South (-93.464583, 41.64416)
End: (-96.400135, 42.499991)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 340 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 02m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 16m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 13m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 31m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 01m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 38m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.45 gal
28.22 L · about $28.09
Round trip
$56.19
14.9 gal · 56.44 L
Estimated CO2
66.2 kg one way
Round trip: 132.4 kg / 292 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.09 $56.19
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.68 $63.37
Premium $4.65 $34.67 $69.34
Diesel $5.30 $39.51 $79.03

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Iowa · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Altoona and Sioux City. The current time is 15:00:13.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.