How far is Dubuque, IA from Le Mars, IA?

The driving distance from Dubuque, IA to Le Mars, IA is about 310.6 miles (499.8 km), with a travel time of about 06h 12m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 280.2 miles (451 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 24m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
310.57 mi
06h 12m
Flight
280.25 mi
451.02 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Dubuque.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
280.25 mi
Kilometers
451.02 km
Flight Time
00h 33m

Driving Distance

Road route
310.57 mi
Kilometers
499.81 km
Drive Time
06h 12m

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 06h 12m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Le Mars
Fri, Apr 17, 5:22 AM CDT
Return by in Dubuque
Fri, Apr 17, 11:35 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dubuque
2026-04-16T23:10
Arrive Le Mars
Fri, Apr 17, 5:22 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 12m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:12 PM to 1:42 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
11:36 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Dubuque
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Blairsburg
IA

Township in Hamilton County, Iowa

From Dubuque
154.9 mi
03h 06m
To Le Mars
155.7 mi
03h 06m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
74°F
Today

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW
Destination
84°F
Today

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 16 7:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dubuque and Le Mars.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque and Le Mars.

  1. 1

    Start on Central Avenue

    929 ft · 34 sec · Central Avenue

  2. 2

    Take the ramp straight toward US 61 South, US 151 South

    1248 ft · 32 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Locust Street Conn

    1166 ft · 36 sec · Locust Street Conn

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Dodge Street

    87 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Dodge Street

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints

    160.2 mi · 3 hr 5 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Continue on 160th Street

    6.4 mi · 7 min · 160th Street

  7. 7

    Continue on United States Highway 20

    1.9 mi · 3 min · United States Highway 20

  8. 8

    Continue on Highway 20

    19 mi · 23 min · Highway 20

  9. 9

    Turn right onto Lee Avenue

    5.4 mi · 7 min · Lee Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Shamrock Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · Shamrock Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto 320th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · 320th Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto State Highway 140

    11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 140

  13. 13

    Turn left onto C38

    2 mi · 3 min · C38

  14. 14

    Continue on 210th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · 210th Street

  15. 15

    Continue on C38

    1 mi · 1 min · C38

  16. 16

    Turn right onto County Road K64

    4 mi · 6 min · County Road K64

  17. 17

    Turn left onto State Highway 3

    4.7 mi · 6 min · State Highway 3

  18. 18

    Continue on Lincoln Street Northeast

    1.1 km · 1 min · Lincoln Street Northeast

  19. 19

    Continue on 5th Avenue Northeast

    617 ft · 18 sec · 5th Avenue Northeast

  20. 20

    Turn right onto 1st Street Northeast

    1719 ft · 59 sec · 1st Street Northeast

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 1st Street Northeast

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dubuque and Le Mars.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
21 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
6.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
160 mi · 52%
Dodge Street
87 mi · 28%
Highway 20
19 mi · 6%
State Highway 140
11 mi · 4%
160th Street
6.44 mi · 2%
Lee Avenue
5.4 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints

160 mi · 03h 05m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 12m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 24m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.4 mi
280.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blairsburg
03h 06m from Dubuque
Leave By
11:36 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny leaving Dubuque and Sunny near Le Mars.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dubuque to Le Mars?

The road trip is about 310.6 miles (499.8 km) and usually takes 06h 12m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Blairsburg is a useful midpoint, sitting about 154.9 miles from Dubuque and 155.7 miles from Le Mars.

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

The direct path is about 280.2 miles (451 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.4 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.33 one way or $82.66 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny around Dubuque and Sunny near Le Mars.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dubuque and Le Mars. Straight-line distance: 280.25 mi (451.02 km).

Dubuque

#1 Dubuque

The most populous city in Dubuque County, Iowa.

Population57,781
Coordinates42.5005600, -90.6645700
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Le Mars

#2 Le Mars

City in Iowa, United States

Population10,195
Coordinates42.7941600, -96.1655800
Altitude376
CountryUnited States
Start: Dubuque (-90.66457, 42.50056)
End: Le Mars (-96.16558, 42.79416)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 500 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 45m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 10m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 26m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 52m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.96 gal
41.48 L · about $41.33
Round trip
$82.66
21.92 gal · 82.96 L
Estimated CO2
97.4 kg one way
Round trip: 194.8 kg / 429 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $41.33 $82.66
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.61 $93.23
Premium $4.65 $51.01 $102.02
Diesel $5.30 $58.13 $116.26

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Dubuque and Le Mars. The current time is 23:10:15.

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.