How far is Estherville, IA from Dubuque, IA?

The driving distance from Estherville, IA to Dubuque, IA is about 275.8 miles (443.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 219.8 miles (353.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 15m 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
275.78 mi
04h 37m
Flight
219.77 mi
353.68 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Estherville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
219.77 mi
Kilometers
353.68 km
Flight Time
00h 26m

Driving Distance

Road route
275.78 mi
Kilometers
443.82 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 04h 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dubuque
Sun, Apr 19, 4:11 AM CDT
Return by in Estherville
Sun, Apr 19, 8:49 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Estherville
2026-04-18T23:34
Arrive Dubuque
Sun, Apr 19, 4:11 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:38 AM to 12:38 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:44 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Estherville
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
Charles City
IA

City in Iowa

From Estherville
137.6 mi
02h 18m
To Dubuque
138.2 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
45°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
22 to 26 mph NW
Destination
48°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South 9th Street

    45 m · 8 sec · South 9th Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Central Avenue

    1.7 mi · 3 min · East Central Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on State Highway 9

    15.2 mi · 23 min · State Highway 9

  4. 4

    Continue on 4th Avenue

    3.1 mi · 5 min · 4th Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on 430th Street

    6.1 mi · 9 min · 430th Street

  6. 6

    Continue on 4th Avenue West

    1.1 km · 59 sec · 4th Avenue West

  7. 7

    Continue on State Highway 9

    4.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 9

  8. 8

    Continue on US Highway 169

    6.4 mi · 9 min · US Highway 169

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 9

    6.9 mi · 9 min · State Highway 9

  10. 10

    Continue on 1st Avenue West

    2648 ft · 1 min · 1st Avenue West

  11. 11

    Continue on State Highway 9

    16 mi · 23 min · State Highway 9

  12. 12

    Turn right onto 170th Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · 170th Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto 400th Street

    5.7 mi · 8 min · 400th Street

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn right onto 225th Avenue

    75 m · 4 sec · 225th Avenue

  15. 15

    Continue on 230th Avenue

    5.1 mi · 7 min · 230th Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn left onto State Highway 9

    5 mi · 7 min · State Highway 9

  17. 17

    Continue on 350th Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · 350th Street

  18. 18

    Continue on Evergreen Avenue

    1.1 mi · 1 min · Evergreen Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on 360th Street

    2631 ft · 41 sec · 360th Street

  20. 20

    Continue on North Street

    2493 ft · 39 sec · North Street

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 9

    1.4 km · 1 min · State Highway 9

  22. 22

    Take the ramp right

    1988 ft · 49 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    12.2 mi · 13 min · Avenue of the Saints

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City

    2212 ft · 27 sec

  25. 25

    Turn slight right onto US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City

    81.3 mi · 1 hr 34 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo

    97 m · 8 sec

  27. 27

    Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo

    1625 ft · 40 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Leo P Rooff Expressway

  29. 29

    Continue on Washington Street

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Washington Street

  30. 30

    Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls

    6.5 mi · 8 min

  31. 31

    Keep slight left

    81.4 mi · 1 hr 37 min

  32. 32

    Turn left onto South Locust Street

    553 ft · 18 sec · South Locust Street

  33. 33

    Turn straight onto IA 946

    708 ft · 21 sec

  34. 34

    At the end of the road, turn left

    128 m · 13 sec

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward White Street, Port of Dubuque

    1432 ft · 32 sec

  36. 36

    Continue on White Street

    638 ft · 27 sec · White Street

  37. 37

    Turn left onto East 7th Street

    87 m · 20 sec · East 7th Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto Central Avenue

    10 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Central Avenue

Car Route Details

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

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
39 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-380 south
87.9 mi · 32%
US 18 East
81.7 mi · 30%
State Highway 9
48.9 mi · 18%
Avenue of the Saints
12.2 mi · 4%
Leo P Rooff Expressway
6.66 mi · 2%
US Highway 169
6.44 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I-380 south

Keep slight left

81.4 mi · 01h 37m

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
04h 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+56 mi
219.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Charles City
02h 18m from Estherville
Leave By
7:44 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Snow Showers leaving Estherville and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Dubuque.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 275.8 miles (443.8 km) and usually takes 04h 37m 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?

Charles City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 137.6 miles from Estherville and 138.2 miles from Dubuque.

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

The direct path is about 219.8 miles (353.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 56 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 7:44 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $36.69 one way or $73.38 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 86.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers around Estherville and Slight Chance Rain And Snow Showers near Dubuque.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Estherville and Dubuque. Straight-line distance: 219.77 mi (353.68 km).

Estherville

#1 Estherville

City in Iowa

Population5,587
Coordinates43.4016300, -94.8327600
Altitude395
CountryUnited States
Dubuque

#2 Dubuque

The most populous city in Dubuque County, Iowa.

Population57,781
Coordinates42.5005600, -90.6645700
Altitude189
CountryUnited States
Start: South 9th Street (-94.832757, 43.40163)
End: Central Avenue (-90.664595, 42.500561)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 444 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 30m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 26m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.73 gal
36.84 L · about $36.69
Round trip
$73.38
19.46 gal · 73.68 L
Estimated CO2
86.5 kg one way
Round trip: 172.9 kg / 381 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $36.69 $73.38
Mid-grade $4.25 $41.38 $82.76
Premium $4.65 $45.28 $90.57
Diesel $5.30 $51.61 $103.22

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Estherville and Dubuque. The current time is 23:34:01.

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.