How far is Fort Madison, IA from Sioux City, IA?

The driving distance from Fort Madison, IA to Sioux City, IA is about 379.8 miles (611.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 292.9 miles (471.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 39m 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
379.79 mi
05h 49m
Flight
292.86 mi
471.31 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Fort Madison.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
292.86 mi
Kilometers
471.31 km
Flight Time
00h 35m

Driving Distance

Road route
379.79 mi
Kilometers
611.21 km
Drive Time
05h 49m

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 05h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sioux City
Sat, Apr 18, 5:15 AM CDT
Return by in Fort Madison
Sat, Apr 18, 11:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Fort Madison
2026-04-17T23:26
Arrive Sioux City
Sat, Apr 18, 5:15 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:50 AM to 1:50 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
5:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Fort Madison
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
Waukee
IA

City in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

From Fort Madison
187.5 mi
02h 54m
To Sioux City
192.3 mi
02h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph S
Destination
70°F
Friday

Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 to 20 mph WSW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fort Madison and Sioux City.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    19 m · 7 sec

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Avenue I

    42 m · 11 sec · Avenue I

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Avenue H

    1.5 km · 2 min · Avenue H

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 20th Street

    1078 ft · 22 sec · 20th Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Avenue L

    1.3 mi · 2 min · Avenue L

  6. 6

    Continue on Old Highway 61

    1602 ft · 27 sec · Old Highway 61

  7. 7

    Continue on Avenue O

    2.1 mi · 3 min · Avenue O

  8. 8

    Turn straight

    8.3 mi · 11 min

  9. 9

    Take the ramp right

    2184 ft · 53 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

    24.5 mi · 28 min · Avenue of the Saints

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    61.1 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    16.7 mi · 19 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 92: Oskaloosa, Knoxville

    2175 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Turn left onto A Avenue West

    32.4 mi · 36 min · A Avenue West

  15. 15

    Turn right

    575 ft · 7 sec

  16. 16

    Continue on State Highway 5

    19.2 mi · 23 min · State Highway 5

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

    12.3 mi · 14 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on I-35 north: Minneapolis

    1.4 km · 2 min

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    4.3 mi · 5 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west: Council Bluffs

    2455 ft · 1 min · Ramp 72 J

  21. 21

    Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway

    2827 ft · 40 sec · John MacVicar Freeway

  22. 22

    Merge slight right

    94.8 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  23. 23

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

    16.7 mi · 18 min

  24. 24

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

    2271 ft · 39 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    75.3 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street

    1582 ft · 43 sec

  27. 27

    Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard

    3174 ft · 1 min · South Floyd Boulevard

  28. 28

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    121 m · 15 sec · 5th Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Iowa Street

    105 m · 7 sec · Iowa Street

  30. 30

    Keep slight left to continue on 6th Street

    130 m · 17 sec · 6th Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Court Street

    1199 ft · 39 sec · Court Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    990 ft · 46 sec · 9th Street

  33. 33

    Turn right

    35 m · 9 sec

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
34 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
6 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Avenue of the Saints
102 mi · 27%
John MacVicar Freeway
95.4 mi · 25%
I 29 North
75.8 mi · 20%
A Avenue West
32.4 mi · 9%
State Highway 5
19.2 mi · 5%
I 880 West
16.7 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

John MacVicar Freeway

Merge slight right

94.8 mi · 01h 42m

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
05h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+86.9 mi
292.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Waukee
02h 54m from Fort Madison
Leave By
5:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Fort Madison and Slight 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 Fort Madison to Sioux City?

The road trip is about 379.8 miles (611.2 km) and usually takes 05h 49m 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?

Waukee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 187.5 miles from Fort Madison and 192.3 miles from Sioux City.

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

The direct path is about 292.9 miles (471.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 86.9 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 5:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $50.53 one way or $101.06 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 119.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Fort Madison and Slight Chance Rain Showers near Sioux City.

Stop Ideas Near Waukee

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

65 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

73 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Fort Madison and Sioux City. Straight-line distance: 292.86 mi (471.31 km).

Fort Madison

#1 Fort Madison

City and county seat in Lee County, Iowa

Population10,263
Coordinates40.6297600, -91.3151500
Altitude161
CountryUnited States
Sioux City

#2 Sioux City

The second most populous city in Iowa.

Population82,651
Coordinates42.4999900, -96.4003100
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: (-91.31513, 40.629699)
End: (-96.400135, 42.499991)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 611 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)12h 39m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)09h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 35m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)06h 19m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 44m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
13.4 gal
50.73 L · about $50.53
Round trip
$101.06
26.8 gal · 101.46 L
Estimated CO2
119.1 kg one way
Round trip: 238.2 kg / 525 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $50.53 $101.06
Mid-grade $4.25 $56.99 $113.98
Premium $4.65 $62.36 $124.73
Diesel $5.30 $71.07 $142.15

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 Fort Madison and Sioux City. The current time is 23:26:10.

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.