Origin
Altoona, IA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
102 mi
164 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 102 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 1st Avenue North, Northeast 72nd Street, Grant Street South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.49 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
51 miles from Altoona, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 102 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 27 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
1st Avenue North is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Avenue North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast 72nd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grant Street South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marsh Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 160th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sanford Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
1st Avenue North
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on 1st Avenue South
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue South
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 1st Avenue North
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
1st Avenue North
3
Exit the roundabout onto 1st Avenue North
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
1st Avenue North
4
Continue on Northeast 72nd Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Northeast 72nd Street
5
Continue on Grant Street South
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Grant Street South
6
Continue on Grant Street South
135 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grant Street South
7
Turn right onto Northeast Hubbell Road
34 mi
·
39 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
8
Turn left onto Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
9
Continue on South Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
10
Continue on 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
11
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
12
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
13
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
14
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
15
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
16
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
17
Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 20 East: Waterloo
18
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
20 min
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 63: Sergeant Road
20
Turn slight right
121 ft
·
6 sec
21
Turn straight onto Sergeant Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
22
Turn right onto University Avenue
387 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
23
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
24
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
25
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
26
Turn right onto West 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
27
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51 miles from Altoona, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 80 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Altoona, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Altoona, IA
This is one driving day of about 102 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Altoona, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51 mi from Altoona, IA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51 miles from Altoona, 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.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Waterloo, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.49 one way
$30.99 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $17.08 | $34.16 |
| premium | $4.80 | $19.26 | $38.51 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $22.66 | $45.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.6 | 0 | $10.71 | $4.90 |
| Efficient EV | 25.5 | 0 | $8.92 | $4.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.8 | 0 | $14.28 | $6.53 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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
Morning in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
10:47 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
42°F
Ames, IA
51 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
2 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 49m 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 Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 102 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 1st Avenue North, Northeast 72nd Street, Grant Street South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51 miles from Altoona, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.49 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.
The drive from Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 49m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Altoona, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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