How far is Iowa City, IA from Sergeant Bluff, IA?

The driving distance from Iowa City, IA to Sergeant Bluff, IA is about 305 miles (490.8 km), with a travel time of about 05h 35m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253 miles (407.2 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 11m 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
304.94 mi
05h 35m
Flight
253.02 mi
407.19 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Iowa City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.02 mi
Kilometers
407.19 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
304.94 mi
Kilometers
490.76 km
Drive Time
05h 35m

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 35m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Sergeant Bluff
Thu, Apr 30, 1:01 AM CDT
Return by in Iowa City
Thu, Apr 30, 6:37 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Iowa City
2026-04-29T19:26
Arrive Sergeant Bluff
Thu, Apr 30, 1:01 AM CDT
Route Timing
05h 35m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:36 AM to 1:36 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
5:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Iowa City
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
Stuart
IA

Human settlement in Iowa, United States of America

From Iowa City
152.2 mi
02h 47m
To Sergeant Bluff
152.8 mi
02h 47m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
44°F
Overnight

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 12:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph N
Destination
37°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 29 3:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Iowa City and Sergeant Bluff.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Iowa City and Sergeant Bluff.

  1. 1

    Start on South Gilbert Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · South Gilbert Street

  2. 2

    Turn slight left onto Kimball Road

    145 m · 22 sec · Kimball Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

  4. 4

    Turn left

    2315 ft · 59 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    119.9 mi · 2 hr 11 min

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

    95.5 mi · 1 hr 43 min

  7. 7

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

    16.7 mi · 18 min

  8. 8

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

    2271 ft · 39 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    69 mi · 1 hr 14 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward Sergeant Bluff, Sioux Gateway Airport

    1606 ft · 43 sec

  11. 11

    Turn right onto 1st Street

    1353 ft · 50 sec · 1st Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto D Street

    1275 ft · 48 sec · D Street

  13. 13

    Turn right onto 4th Street

    157 m · 23 sec · 4th Street

  14. 14

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 4th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Iowa City and Sergeant Bluff.

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
14 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
2 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
4.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
North Dubuque Street
121 mi · 40%
I 80 West
95.5 mi · 31%
I 29 North
69.7 mi · 23%
I 880 West
16.7 mi · 5%
South Gilbert Street
0.8 mi
1st Street
0.26 mi
Longest Stretch

North Dubuque Street

Merge slight left

120 mi · 02h 11m

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 35m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52 mi
253 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Stuart
02h 47m from Iowa City
Leave By
5:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Iowa City and Partly Cloudy near Sergeant Bluff.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Iowa City to Sergeant Bluff?

The road trip is about 305 miles (490.8 km) and usually takes 05h 35m 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?

Stuart is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.2 miles from Iowa City and 152.8 miles from Sergeant Bluff.

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

The direct path is about 253 miles (407.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 52 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 5:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $40.58 one way or $81.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Iowa City and Partly Cloudy near Sergeant Bluff.

Stop Ideas Near Stuart

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

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

RAIL

Creston

50 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue
RAIL

Osceola

69 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Iowa City and Sergeant Bluff. Straight-line distance: 253.02 mi (407.19 km).

Iowa City

#1 Iowa City

The most populous city in Johnson County, Iowa.

Population75,130
Coordinates41.6611300, -91.5301700
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Sergeant Bluff

#2 Sergeant Bluff

City in Woodbury County, Iowa, United States of America

Population5,119
Coordinates42.4038800, -96.3586400
Altitude334
CountryUnited States
Start: Iowa City (-91.53017, 41.66113)
End: Sergeant Bluff (-96.35864, 42.40388)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 491 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 09m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 37m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.76 gal
40.73 L · about $40.58
Round trip
$81.15
21.52 gal · 81.46 L
Estimated CO2
95.6 kg one way
Round trip: 191.2 kg / 422 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $40.58 $81.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $45.76 $91.52
Premium $4.65 $50.08 $100.15
Diesel $5.30 $57.07 $114.14

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 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Iowa City and Sergeant Bluff. The current time is 19:26:17.

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.