Drive Time
58m
Distance
51 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Atkins, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 51 miles and takes about 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Park Ridge Road, 32nd Avenue, Southwest Smith Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.75 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
25.5 miles from Atkins, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Expect a 58m drive with frequent turns across 51 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Atkins, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 58m 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 Atkins, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Park Ridge Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 32nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest Smith Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northwest Canton Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Union Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 55th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 54th Street Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Atkins, IA and Waterloo, IA.
Start on Main Avenue
Turn right onto Park Ridge Road
Turn right onto 32nd Avenue
Continue on Southwest Smith Street
Turn left onto East Main Street
Turn right onto Northwest Canton Street
Continue on 32nd Avenue
Continue on Union Avenue
At the end of the road, turn right onto 55th Street
Continue on 54th Street Trail
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Continue on Washington Street
Turn left onto West 4th Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 51 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.5 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Atkins, 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 Atkins, IA
This is one driving day of about 51 miles and 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.5 mi from Atkins, IA · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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.
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.5 miles from Atkins, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$7.75 one way
$15.49 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $8.54 | $17.08 |
| premium | $4.80 | $9.63 | $19.26 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.33 | $22.66 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.35 | $2.45 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.46 | $2.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.14 | $3.26 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Atkins on Sunday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
8:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Cedar Rapids, IA
26 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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