How far is Sioux Center, IA from Iowa City, IA?

The driving distance from Sioux Center, IA to Iowa City, IA is about 320.1 miles (515.2 km), with a travel time of about 05h 08m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 10h 17m 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
320.14 mi
05h 08m
Flight
256.55 mi
412.87 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sioux Center.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
256.55 mi
Kilometers
412.87 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
320.14 mi
Kilometers
515.22 km
Drive Time
05h 08m

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 08m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Iowa City
Sun, Apr 26, 8:22 PM CDT
Return by in Sioux Center
Mon, Apr 27, 1:31 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sioux Center
2026-04-26T15:13
Arrive Iowa City
Sun, Apr 26, 8:22 PM CDT
Route Timing
05h 08m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:09 AM to 1:09 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
6:42 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sioux Center
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
Webster City
IA

City in Iowa

From Sioux Center
159.8 mi
02h 34m
To Iowa City
160.4 mi
02h 34m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Sunday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph E
Destination
73°F
Sunday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 26 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Center and Iowa City.

  1. 1

    Start on North Main Avenue

    5.7 mi · 9 min · North Main Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 450th Street

    5 mi · 7 min · 450th Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Highway 10 West

    2721 ft · 58 sec · Highway 10 West

  4. 4

    Continue on 8th Street Southwest

    1.2 km · 2 min · 8th Street Southwest

  5. 5

    Continue on 450th Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · 450th Street

  6. 6

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 450th Street

    24 m · 5 sec · 450th Street

  7. 7

    Exit the roundabout onto 450th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · 450th Street

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Kennedy Avenue

    1.4 km · 1 min · Kennedy Avenue

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 10

    1587 ft · 25 sec · State Highway 10

  10. 10

    Continue on 460th Street

    1.8 mi · 2 min · 460th Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Kiwi Avenue

    5 mi · 7 min · Kiwi Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on County Road L14

    7 mi · 10 min · County Road L14

  13. 13

    Continue on State Highway 140

    15.1 mi · 21 min · State Highway 140

  14. 14

    Turn left onto 320th Street

    2 mi · 3 min · 320th Street

  15. 15

    Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · Shamrock Avenue

  16. 16

    Continue on Lee Avenue

    5.4 mi · 8 min · Lee Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Highway 20

    19 mi · 23 min · Highway 20

  18. 18

    Continue on United States Highway 20

    8.3 mi · 10 min · United States Highway 20

  19. 19

    Continue on 220th Street

    165.9 mi · 3 hr 11 min · 220th Street

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

    64.7 mi · 1 hr 12 min · Avenue of the Saints

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80

    1362 ft · 33 sec

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Davenport

    1.2 mi · 3 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight left

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown

    2061 ft · 53 sec

  25. 25

    Turn right onto North Dubuque Street

    1.5 km · 3 min · North Dubuque Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Kimball Road

    145 m · 21 sec · Kimball Road

  27. 27

    Keep slight right to continue on North Gilbert Street

    1.3 km · 3 min · North Gilbert Street

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Gilbert Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Sioux Center and Iowa 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
28 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
220th Street
166 mi · 52%
Avenue of the Saints
64.7 mi · 20%
Highway 20
19 mi · 6%
State Highway 140
15.1 mi · 5%
United States Highway 20
8.31 mi · 3%
450th Street
7.78 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

220th Street

Continue on 220th Street

166 mi · 03h 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 08m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
10h 18m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.5 mi
256.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Webster City
02h 34m from Sioux Center
Leave By
6:42 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Sioux Center and Mostly Sunny near Iowa City.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Sioux Center to Iowa City?

The road trip is about 320.1 miles (515.2 km) and usually takes 05h 08m 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?

Webster City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 159.8 miles from Sioux Center and 160.4 miles from Iowa City.

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

The direct path is about 256.6 miles (412.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.5 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 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 6:42 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $42.61 one way or $85.22 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 100.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Sioux Center and Mostly Sunny near Iowa City.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sioux Center and Iowa City. Straight-line distance: 256.55 mi (412.87 km).

Sioux Center

#1 Sioux Center

City in Sioux County, Iowa, United States of America

Population7,665
Coordinates43.0797100, -96.1755800
Altitude446
CountryUnited States
Iowa City

#2 Iowa City

The most populous city in Johnson County, Iowa.

Population75,130
Coordinates41.6611300, -91.5301700
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Start: North Main Avenue (-96.175559, 43.079742)
End: South Gilbert Street (-91.530165, 41.661126)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 515 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 20m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
11.3 gal
42.76 L · about $42.61
Round trip
$85.22
22.6 gal · 85.52 L
Estimated CO2
100.4 kg one way
Round trip: 200.8 kg / 443 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $42.61 $85.22
Mid-grade $4.25 $48.06 $96.12
Premium $4.65 $52.59 $105.18
Diesel $5.30 $59.94 $119.87

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 26, 2026

There is no time difference between Sioux Center and Iowa City. The current time is 15:13:20.

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.