How far is Dubuque, IA from Red Oak, IA?

The driving distance from Dubuque, IA to Red Oak, IA is about 306.9 miles (493.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 256.6 miles (413 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 28m 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
306.87 mi
06h 14m
Flight
256.62 mi
412.99 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
256.62 mi
Kilometers
412.99 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
306.87 mi
Kilometers
493.86 km
Drive Time
06h 14m

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 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Red Oak
Sat, Apr 18, 1:31 PM CDT
Return by in Dubuque
Sat, Apr 18, 7:45 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dubuque
2026-04-18T07:17
Arrive Red Oak
Sat, Apr 18, 1:31 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:14 PM to 1:44 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
11:32 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

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

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

Mid-route stop
Rhodes
IA

City in Iowa, United States

From Dubuque
153.2 mi
03h 07m
To Red Oak
153.7 mi
03h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
48°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW
Destination
55°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 20 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Dubuque and Red Oak.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque and Red Oak.

  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

    1021 ft · 28 sec

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 8 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right

    57 mi · 1 hr 6 min

  5. 5

    Turn left

    1.1 mi · 2 min

  6. 6

    Turn right

    15.2 mi · 19 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward US 30 West, US 218 North: Tama, Marshalltown

    1.2 km · 1 min

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto 16th Avenue Southwest

    2.4 mi · 3 min · 16th Avenue Southwest

  9. 9

    Continue on 73rd Street

    24.4 mi · 28 min · 73rd Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Lincoln Highway

    37.3 mi · 43 min · Lincoln Highway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 330: Melbourne, Des Moines

    1818 ft · 46 sec

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Marshalltown Boulevard

    33.7 mi · 40 min · Marshalltown Boulevard

  13. 13

    Continue on Northeast Hubbell Avenue

    1.1 km · 58 sec · Northeast Hubbell Avenue

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

    13 mi · 16 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    62.3 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon

    1922 ft · 49 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 650th Street

    6.5 mi · 9 min · 650th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto East 7th Street

    3.5 mi · 6 min · East 7th Street

  20. 20

    Continue on White Pole Road

    757 ft · 20 sec · White Pole Road

  21. 21

    Continue on West 7th Street

    1 km · 1 min · West 7th Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Southwest 7th Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · Southwest 7th Street

  23. 23

    Continue on White Pole Road

    8.9 mi · 13 min · White Pole Road

  24. 24

    Turn left onto 550th Street

    5.3 mi · 8 min · 550th Street

  25. 25

    Continue on Adair Street

    1.5 km · 1 min · Adair Street

  26. 26

    Continue on 550th Street

    4.8 mi · 7 min · 550th Street

  27. 27

    Continue on M Avenue

    1.4 km · 1 min · M Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on 110 Street

    14 mi · 21 min · 110 Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto West Hammond Street

    2305 ft · 2 min · West Hammond Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto North 7th Street

    91 m · 15 sec · North 7th Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto East Reed Street

    100 m · 14 sec · East Reed Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · East Reed Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Dubuque and Red Oak.

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
32 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
1 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 80 west
80.9 mi · 26%
US 61 South
62.8 mi · 20%
Lincoln Highway
37.3 mi · 12%
Marshalltown Boulevard
33.7 mi · 11%
73rd Street
24.4 mi · 8%
110 Street
14 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 80 West

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

62.3 mi · 01h 07m

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 14m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
12h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.3 mi
256.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Rhodes
03h 07m from Dubuque
Leave By
11:32 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers leaving Dubuque and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Red Oak.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dubuque to Red Oak?

The road trip is about 306.9 miles (493.9 km) and usually takes 06h 14m 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?

Rhodes is a useful midpoint, sitting about 153.2 miles from Dubuque and 153.7 miles from Red Oak.

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

The direct path is about 256.6 miles (413 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.3 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 $40.84 one way or $81.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 96.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers around Dubuque and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Sunny near Red Oak.

Stop Ideas Near Rhodes

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Rhodes, 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 Rhodes.

RAIL

Osceola

110 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Ottumwa station

119 mi away
210 West Main Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dubuque and Red Oak. Straight-line distance: 256.62 mi (412.99 km).

Dubuque

#1 Dubuque

The most populous city in Dubuque County, Iowa.

Population57,781
Coordinates42.5005600, -90.6645700
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Red Oak

#2 Red Oak

City in and county seat of Montgomery County, Iowa, United States

Population5,271
Coordinates41.0097200, -95.2255500
Altitude320
CountryUnited States
Start: Dubuque (-90.66457, 42.50056)
End: Red Oak (-95.22555, 41.00972)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 494 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 13m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 40m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 08m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 06m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 23m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 49m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.83 gal
40.99 L · about $40.84
Round trip
$81.68
21.66 gal · 81.98 L
Estimated CO2
96.2 kg one way
Round trip: 192.5 kg / 424 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.84 $81.68
Mid-grade $4.25 $46.06 $92.12
Premium $4.65 $50.40 $100.81
Diesel $5.30 $57.44 $114.88

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Dubuque and Red Oak. The current time is 07:17:05.

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.