How far is Indianola, IA from Sioux City, IA?

The driving distance from Indianola, IA to Sioux City, IA is about 216.2 miles (347.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166 miles (267.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 31m 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
216.19 mi
03h 15m
Flight
166.06 mi
267.25 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Indianola.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
166.06 mi
Kilometers
267.25 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
216.19 mi
Kilometers
347.93 km
Drive Time
03h 15m

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 03h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sioux City
Sun, Apr 19, 1:17 AM CDT
Return by in Indianola
Sun, Apr 19, 4:32 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Indianola
2026-04-18T22:01
Arrive Sioux City
Sun, Apr 19, 1:17 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:16 AM to 11:16 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Indianola
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
Avoca
IA

City in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States of America

From Indianola
108.7 mi
01h 37m
To Sioux City
107.6 mi
01h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Saturday

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
14 to 18 mph NW
Destination
50°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Snow Showers

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

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Indianola and Sioux City.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    24 m · 11 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East 2nd Avenue

    11.9 mi · 18 min · East 2nd Avenue

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right toward I-35 north: Des Moines

    1768 ft · 43 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left

    15.5 mi · 17 min

  5. 5

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

    2455 ft · 1 min · Ramp 72 J

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto John MacVicar Freeway

    2827 ft · 40 sec · John MacVicar Freeway

  7. 7

    Merge slight right

    94.8 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  8. 8

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

    16.7 mi · 18 min

  9. 9

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

    2271 ft · 39 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    75.3 mi · 1 hr 21 min

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward Floyd Boulevard, Virginia Street

    1582 ft · 43 sec

  12. 12

    Turn right onto South Floyd Boulevard

    3174 ft · 1 min · South Floyd Boulevard

  13. 13

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    121 m · 15 sec · 5th Street

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Iowa Street

    105 m · 7 sec · Iowa Street

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on 6th Street

    130 m · 17 sec · 6th Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Court Street

    1199 ft · 39 sec · Court Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    990 ft · 46 sec · 9th Street

  18. 18

    Turn right

    35 m · 9 sec

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

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
19 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
John MacVicar Freeway
95.4 mi · 44%
I 29 North
75.8 mi · 35%
I 880 West
16.7 mi · 8%
I-35 north
15.9 mi · 7%
East 2nd Avenue
11.9 mi · 6%
South Floyd Boulevard
0.6 mi
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
03h 15m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+50.2 mi
166 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Avoca
01h 37m from Indianola
Leave By
10:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers then Sunny leaving Indianola and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Sioux City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Indianola to Sioux City?

The road trip is about 216.2 miles (347.9 km) and usually takes 03h 15m 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?

Avoca is a useful midpoint, sitting about 108.7 miles from Indianola and 107.6 miles from Sioux City.

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

The direct path is about 166 miles (267.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.2 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 10:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.77 one way or $57.55 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 67.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers then Sunny around Indianola and Slight Chance Snow Showers near Sioux City.

Stop Ideas Near Avoca

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

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

RAIL

Omaha

55 mi away
1003 S. 9th Street
RAIL

Creston

94 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Indianola and Sioux City. Straight-line distance: 166.06 mi (267.25 km).

Indianola

#1 Indianola

City in Mississippi

Population16,072
Coordinates41.3580500, -93.5574400
Altitude295
CountryUnited States
Sioux City

#2 Sioux City

The second most populous city in Iowa.

Population82,651
Coordinates42.4999900, -96.4003100
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Start: East 2nd Avenue (-93.557437, 41.35827)
End: (-96.400135, 42.499991)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 348 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 12m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 19m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 36m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 05m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.63 gal
28.88 L · about $28.77
Round trip
$57.55
15.26 gal · 57.76 L
Estimated CO2
67.8 kg one way
Round trip: 135.6 kg / 299 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.77 $57.55
Mid-grade $4.25 $32.45 $64.90
Premium $4.65 $35.51 $71.02
Diesel $5.30 $40.47 $80.94

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 Indianola and Sioux City. The current time is 22:01:37.

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.