Origin
Ackley, IA
Afternoon in Ackley on Thursday
Local time
3:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ackley, IA to Waterloo, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
45.8 mi
74 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ackley, IA
Tara Winstead
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ackley, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 45.8 miles and takes about 1h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, County Highway S56, Sergeant Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 33 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.16 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 45.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 1m highway drive covering 45.8 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and County Highway S56. The longest continuous stretch is about 33 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 33 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and County Highway S56. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Butler Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 1m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Butler Street
Turn right onto Butler Street
Navigation decision point
4
7.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
7.7 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 20
Merge onto US 20
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
40.7 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Sergeant Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
5
45.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 33 mi | 38m |
| County Highway S56 | 6.3 mi | 11m |
| Sergeant Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| Butler Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| US 63 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 33 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ackley, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto Butler Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Butler Street
3
Continue on County Highway S56
6.3 mi
·
11 min
·
County Highway S56
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
5
Merge onto US 20
33 mi
·
38 min
·
US 20
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
7
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
8
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
10
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
11
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
12
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
13
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
14
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.9 mi from Ackley, IA · 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Ackley, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
The final approach into Waterloo, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.16 one way
$14.32 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.86 | $15.72 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.81 | $17.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.11 | $20.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 16 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.81 | $2.20 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.01 | $1.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
3:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 1m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Ackley, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 45.8 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, County Highway S56, Sergeant Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.9 miles from Ackley, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.16 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 1h 1m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (US 20): Merge point - match speed before joining.
The route from Ackley, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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