How far is Dubuque, IA from Sheldon, IA?

The driving distance from Dubuque, IA to Sheldon, IA is about 319.6 miles (514.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 267.1 miles (429.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 00m 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
319.6 mi
06h 30m
Flight
267.14 mi
429.92 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
267.14 mi
Kilometers
429.92 km
Flight Time
00h 32m

Driving Distance

Road route
319.6 mi
Kilometers
514.34 km
Drive Time
06h 30m

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 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sheldon
Thu, Apr 23, 5:43 AM CDT
Return by in Dubuque
Thu, Apr 23, 12:13 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Dubuque
2026-04-22T23:13
Arrive Sheldon
Thu, Apr 23, 5:43 AM CDT
Route Timing
06h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:30 PM to 2:00 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
11:00 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
159.4 mi
03h 15m
To Sheldon
160.1 mi
03h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
79°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph SE
Destination
85°F
Wednesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 25 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dubuque and Sheldon.

  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

    159.2 mi · 3 hr 4 min · Avenue of the Saints

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Armstrong Avenue

    6 mi · 8 min · Armstrong Avenue

  7. 7

    Continue on 20th Avenue

    9.2 mi · 13 min · 20th Avenue

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Highway 7

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Highway 7

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 7

    2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 7

  10. 10

    Continue on 1st Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 1st Street

  11. 11

    Continue on V Avenue

    1.9 mi · 3 min · V Avenue

  12. 12

    Turn left onto State Highway 3

    1153 ft · 23 sec · State Highway 3

  13. 13

    Turn straight onto 530th Street

    3.1 mi · 4 min · 530th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto State Highway 3

    4.5 mi · 6 min · State Highway 3

  15. 15

    Continue on 500th Street

    2.5 mi · 3 min · 500th Street

  16. 16

    Continue on State Highway 3

    4.2 mi · 6 min · State Highway 3

  17. 17

    Continue on 490th Street

    5 mi · 7 min · 490th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Ames Avenue

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Ames Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on D Avenue

    5.7 mi · 8 min · D Avenue

  20. 20

    Continue on Nettle Avenue

    5 mi · 7 min · Nettle Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn left onto 460th Street

    3.5 mi · 5 min · 460th Street

  22. 22

    Continue on Garfield Street

    2590 ft · 1 min · Garfield Street

  23. 23

    Continue on 460th Street

    1.6 km · 1 min · 460th Street

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Log Avenue

    5.5 mi · 8 min · Log Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right

    7.1 mi · 8 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward CR L26, IA 60 Business: 2nd Avenue

    1660 ft · 44 sec

  27. 27

    Turn left onto 2nd Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · 2nd Avenue

  28. 28

    Turn right onto 9th Street

    8 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 9th Street

Car Route Details

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

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
29 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
0 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
159 mi · 50%
Dodge Street
87 mi · 27%
20th Avenue
9.23 mi · 3%
State Highway 3
8.82 mi · 3%
Armstrong Avenue
5.95 mi · 2%
D Avenue
5.75 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight left to continue on Avenue of the Saints

159 mi · 03h 04m

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 30m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.5 mi
267.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Blairsburg
03h 15m from Dubuque
Leave By
11:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Dubuque and Mostly Sunny near Sheldon.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Dubuque to Sheldon?

The road trip is about 319.6 miles (514.3 km) and usually takes 06h 30m 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 159.4 miles from Dubuque and 160.1 miles from Sheldon.

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

The direct path is about 267.1 miles (429.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.5 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 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 $42.54 one way or $85.07 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Dubuque and Mostly Sunny near Sheldon.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Dubuque and Sheldon. Straight-line distance: 267.14 mi (429.92 km).

Dubuque

#1 Dubuque

The most populous city in Dubuque County, Iowa.

Population57,781
Coordinates42.5005600, -90.6645700
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Sheldon

#2 Sheldon

City in Iowa, United States

Population5,071
Coordinates43.1810900, -95.8561300
Altitude435
CountryUnited States
Start: Dubuque (-90.66457, 42.50056)
End: Sheldon (-95.85613, 43.18109)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 514 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 38m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 23m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 33m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.28 gal
42.69 L · about $42.54
Round trip
$85.07
22.56 gal · 85.38 L
Estimated CO2
100.2 kg one way
Round trip: 200.5 kg / 442 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.54 $85.07
Mid-grade $4.25 $47.97 $95.95
Premium $4.65 $52.50 $104.99
Diesel $5.30 $59.83 $119.66

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Dubuque and Sheldon. The current time is 23:13:19.

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.