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

The driving distance from Sioux City, IA to Mediapolis, IA is about 358 miles (576.2 km), with a travel time of about 06h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 288.9 miles (464.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 53m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
358.05 mi
06h 56m
Flight
288.85 mi
464.86 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Sioux City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
288.85 mi
Kilometers
464.86 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
358.05 mi
Kilometers
576.22 km
Drive Time
06h 56m

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 06h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mediapolis
Thu, Apr 23, 12:40 PM CDT
Return by in Sioux City
Thu, Apr 23, 7:37 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Sioux City
2026-04-23T05:43
Arrive Mediapolis
Thu, Apr 23, 12:40 PM CDT
Route Timing
06h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:57 PM to 2:27 PM CDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:06 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Sioux City
8:00 PM CDT
Overnight-style route

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
Van Meter
IA

Township in Dallas County, Iowa

From Sioux City
178.8 mi
03h 28m
To Mediapolis
179.3 mi
03h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Thursday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
20 mph SSW
Destination
79°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  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

    1594 ft · 55 sec · Court Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    794 ft · 29 sec · 5th Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Floyd Boulevard

    1 km · 2 min · Floyd Boulevard

  6. 6

    Take the ramp left toward I 29 South

    1588 ft · 39 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    75.6 mi · 1 hr 22 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward I 880 East: Des Moines

    1.2 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Continue straight

    16 mi · 17 min

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Des Moines

    1.1 km · 44 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight right

    94.9 mi · 1 hr 42 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City

    1510 ft · 19 sec

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Kansas City

    2130 ft · 52 sec · Ramp 72 H

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 5: Des Moines International Airport, West Des Moines, Norwalk

    1.3 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

    12.9 mi · 15 min · Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward IA 5 South: Carlisle

    19 mi · 23 min

  18. 18

    Turn left

    32.3 mi · 36 min

  19. 19

    Take the exit right

    2173 ft · 53 sec

  20. 20

    Merge slight left

    76.5 mi · 1 hr 28 min

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right

    2097 ft · 53 sec

  22. 22

    Turn right onto Old US Highway 218

    2397 ft · 45 sec · Old US Highway 218

  23. 23

    Turn left onto Winfield Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · Winfield Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on 220th Street

    7.4 mi · 13 min · 220th Street

  25. 25

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Racine Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Racine Avenue

  26. 26

    Turn right onto 210th Street

    1 mi · 2 min · 210th Street

  27. 27

    Continue on Mediapolis Road

    10.6 mi · 19 min · Mediapolis Road

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto Main Street

    1946 ft · 44 sec · Main Street

  29. 29

    Turn left onto North Orchard Street

    22 m · 3 sec · North Orchard Street

  30. 30

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Orchard Street

Car Route Details

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

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
30 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
4 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
IA 5 South
96.4 mi · 27%
I 80 East
95.6 mi · 27%
I 29 South
75.9 mi · 21%
I 880 East
16.8 mi · 5%
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
12.9 mi · 4%
Mediapolis Road
10.6 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

I 80 East

Merge slight right

94.9 mi · 01h 42m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 56m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+69.1 mi
288.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Van Meter
03h 28m from Sioux City
Leave By
10:06 PM CDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Sioux City and Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Mediapolis.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 358 miles (576.2 km) and usually takes 06h 56m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Van Meter is a useful midpoint, sitting about 178.8 miles from Sioux City and 179.3 miles from Mediapolis.

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

The direct path is about 288.9 miles (464.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 69.1 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.67 one way or $95.33 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Van Meter

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

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

RAIL

Osceola

57 mi away
Main & East Clay Streets
RAIL

Creston

63 mi away
Pine and Adams Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Sioux City and Mediapolis. Straight-line distance: 288.85 mi (464.86 km).

Sioux City

#1 Sioux City

The second most populous city in Iowa.

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

#2 Mediapolis

City in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States

Population1,514
Coordinates41.0080900, -91.1640400
Altitude235
CountryUnited States
Start: Sioux City (-96.40031, 42.49999)
End: Mediapolis (-91.16404, 41.00809)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 576 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 55m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 09m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 06m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.64 gal
47.83 L · about $47.67
Round trip
$95.33
25.28 gal · 95.66 L
Estimated CO2
112.3 kg one way
Round trip: 224.7 kg / 495 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $47.67 $95.33
Mid-grade $4.25 $53.76 $107.52
Premium $4.65 $58.83 $117.65
Diesel $5.30 $67.04 $134.09

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Sioux City and Mediapolis. The current time is 05:43:41.

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.