Centerville, IA to Waterloo, IA is 146.6 miles and takes about 3h 37m via US 63, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region. It's a relatively short trip, making it ideal for a single-day journey, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on US 63, offering a straightforward path north. Consider this route if you're looking for an uncomplicated drive between these two Iowa cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.3 miles from Centerville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 146.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 46% of the journey utilizing highways. You'll encounter stretches on US 63, East Market Street, and North 18th Street. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll navigate is approximately 53 miles along US 63. Expect a blend of faster highway driving and potentially more local road sections as you approach your destination. This variation means you'll experience different driving conditions throughout the 3h 37m trip.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 63 is the longest continuous segment at about 53 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East State Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 137 / State Highway 137): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44.4 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|East State Street
Turn right onto East State Street
Navigation decision point
4
21.9 mi into trip|~33m in|IA 137 / State Highway 137
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 137 / State Highway 137
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
44.4 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
7
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|US 63
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
146.6 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Centerville, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward New Sharon along the way.
New Sharon
44.4 mi in|~1h 4m|via US 63
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 63
53 mi
1h 16m
East Market Street
22 mi
32m
North 18th Street
20.7 mi
30m
J Avenue
18 mi
26m
State Highway 137
14.5 mi
21m
100th Street
8 mi
11m
120th Street
2.3 mi
3m
380th Avenue
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 53 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centerville, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on North 13th Street
164 ft·7 sec·North 13th Street
2
Continue on North 13th Street
289 ft·22 sec·North 13th Street
3
Turn right onto East State Street
0.3 mi·1 min·East State Street
4
Turn left onto IA 5
21 mi·30 min·North 18th Street
5
Continue on IA 5
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
6
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 137
14 mi·21 min·State Highway 137
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
8
Merge onto US 63; IA 163
7.5 mi·8 min·US 63; IA 163
9
Take the exit onto US 63
15 mi·23 min·US 63
Toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
10
Turn right onto US 63
22 mi·32 min·East Market Street
11
Continue on US 63
2.3 mi·3 min·120th Street
12
Turn left onto US 6; US 63
2.0 mi·2 min·380th Avenue
13
Turn right onto US 63
8.0 mi·11 min·100th Street
14
Continue on US 63
6.3 mi·9 min·J Avenue
15
Continue on US 63
1.5 mi·2 min·State Street
16
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi·24 sec·West 13th Street
17
Turn right onto US 63
0.4 mi·37 sec·Harding Street
18
Continue on US 63
1.8 mi·2 min·South County Road
19
Continue on US 63
12 mi·17 min·J Avenue
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
30 mi·43 min·US 63
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft·9 sec·University Avenue
22
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 63
23
Turn right
0.1 mi·10 sec
24
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Washington Street
25
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
26
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 146.6-mile drive, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will comfortably get you to Waterloo before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $23, you won't need extensive planning. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the longest stretch of 53 miles on US 63, as services might be more spaced out. This route is straightforward enough that you can focus on enjoying the drive itself.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.3 miles from Centerville, IA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53 miles.
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 32 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.3 miles or 1h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
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 Centerville, 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 Centerville, IA
This is one driving day of about 146.6 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Centerville, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 63 for about 53 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.3 mi from Centerville, IA
· 1h 49m into the drive
3.6 mi from route
~9 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 104.7
Tama, Iowa
Hours: 11 am–1:45 pm
+16414817332
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.92 one way
$45.84 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg51 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.16
$50.33
premium
$4.89
$28.21
$56.42
diesel
$5.61
$32.37
$64.73
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
2 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Tesla Supercharger
Waterloo, Iowa
Tesla
1 DCFC
Shell Recharge Charging Station
Waterloo, Iowa
Shell Recharge
1 DCFC
Tesla: 1
Shell Recharge: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44
0
$15.39
$7.04
Efficient EV
36.7
0
$12.83
$5.86
EV Truck/SUV
58.6
0
$20.52
$9.38
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Centerville, IA
Morning
in Centerville on Saturday
Local time
8:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Morning
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
8:09 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
50°F
Brooklyn, IA
73 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
6 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
3h 37m 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 Centerville, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 146.6 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 63, East Market Street, North 18th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.3 miles from Centerville, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.92 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 37m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.9 miles (IA 137 / State Highway 137): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 44.4 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Centerville, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward New Sharon along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
