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

The driving distance from Sioux City, IA to Jefferson, IA is about 135.1 miles (217.5 km), with a travel time of about 02h 54m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 108.7 miles (175 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
135.17 mi
02h 54m
Flight
108.73 mi
174.98 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sioux City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
108.73 mi
Kilometers
174.98 km
Flight Time
00h 13m

Driving Distance

Road route
135.17 mi
Kilometers
217.53 km
Drive Time
02h 54m

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 02h 54m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Jefferson
Sun, May 31, 2:19 AM CDT
Return by in Sioux City
Sun, May 31, 5:13 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sioux City
2026-05-30T23:24
Arrive Jefferson
Sun, May 31, 2:19 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 54m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:55 AM to 12:55 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:40 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sioux City
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Early
IA

City in Sac County, Iowa, United States of America

From Sioux City
67.5 mi
01h 27m
To Jefferson
67.7 mi
01h 27m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
This Afternoon

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 4:00 PM CDT
Wind
15 mph ESE
Destination
76°F
This Afternoon

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, May 30 2:00 PM CDT
Wind
15 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    35 m · 14 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left onto 9th Street

    990 ft · 46 sec · 9th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Court Street

    767 ft · 27 sec · Court Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 7th Street

    122 m · 19 sec · 7th Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Iowa Street

    129 m · 24 sec · Iowa Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto 6th Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · 6th Street

  7. 7

    Continue on Fairmount Street

    3030 ft · 1 min · Fairmount Street

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Gordon Drive

    3.4 mi · 7 min · Gordon Drive

  9. 9

    Continue on Highway 20

    39.4 mi · 47 min · Highway 20

  10. 10

    Continue on United States Highway 20

    8.3 mi · 10 min · United States Highway 20

  11. 11

    Continue on 220th Street

    43.3 mi · 50 min · 220th Street

  12. 12

    Turn right onto Sigourney Avenue

    11.6 mi · 16 min · Sigourney Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Maple Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Maple Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 5th Street

  15. 15

    Continue on 360th Street

    2.9 mi · 4 min · 360th Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Waukon Avenue

    4 mi · 5 min · Waukon Avenue

  17. 17

    Continue on I Avenue

    3.5 mi · 5 min · I Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on Fitzpatrick Street

    2447 ft · 1 min · Fitzpatrick Street

  19. 19

    Turn slight left onto Harding Street

    1754 ft · 37 sec · Harding Street

  20. 20

    Continue on 140th Street

    4.5 mi · 6 min · 140th Street

  21. 21

    Continue on N Avenue

    7.9 mi · 11 min · N Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on North Elm Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · North Elm Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto West Lincolnway Street

    7 m · 1 sec · West Lincolnway Street

  24. 24

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Lincolnway Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
24 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
0
0 merges, 0 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
17.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
220th Street
43.3 mi · 32%
Highway 20
39.4 mi · 29%
Sigourney Avenue
11.6 mi · 9%
United States Highway 20
8.31 mi · 6%
N Avenue
7.93 mi · 6%
140th Street
4.45 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

220th Street

Continue on 220th Street

43.3 mi · 00h 50m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 54m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+26.4 mi
108.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Early
01h 27m from Sioux City
Leave By
12:40 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Sioux City and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Jefferson.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 135.1 miles (217.5 km) and usually takes 02h 54m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Early is a useful midpoint, sitting about 67.5 miles from Sioux City and 67.7 miles from Jefferson.

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

The direct path is about 108.7 miles (175 km), while the road route adds roughly 26.4 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:40 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $17.99 one way or $35.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Sioux City and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Jefferson.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sioux City and Jefferson. Straight-line distance: 108.73 mi (174.98 km).

Sioux City

#1 Sioux City

The second most populous city in Iowa.

Population82,651
Coordinates42.4999900, -96.4003100
Altitude366
CountryUnited States
Jefferson

#2 Jefferson

City in Greene County, Iowa

Population4,075
Coordinates42.0152600, -94.3774700
Altitude325
CountryUnited States
Start: Sioux City (-96.40031, 42.49999)
End: Jefferson (-94.37747, 42.01526)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 218 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.77 gal
18.05 L · about $17.99
Round trip
$35.98
9.54 gal · 36.1 L
Estimated CO2
42.4 kg one way
Round trip: 84.8 kg / 187 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $17.99 $35.98
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.29 $40.57
Premium $4.65 $22.20 $44.40
Diesel $5.30 $25.30 $50.60

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Sioux City and Jefferson. The current time is 23:24:29.

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.