Drive Time
4h 1m
Distance
191.1 mi
308 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Creston, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 191.1 miles and takes about 4h 1m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 35, Northeast Hubbell Road, West Taylor Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 53.1 miles on I 35. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
95.5 miles from Creston, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
The drive from Creston, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 191.1 miles and takes about 4h 1m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near US 34 / West Taylor Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.1 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (US 34 / West Taylor Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 31.3 miles: Navigation decision point; at 31.5 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto US 34 / West Taylor Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I-35 north: Des Moines
Navigation decision point
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
On the drive from Creston, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Bondurant along the way.
Bondurant
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 53.1 mi | 58m |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| West Taylor Street | 30.5 mi | 42m |
| US 20 | 18 mi | 20m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| I 80 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Creston, IA and Waterloo, IA.
Start on East Montgomery Street
Turn left onto North Elm Street
Turn left onto US 34
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit onto US 65
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
Continue on US 65; IA 330
Turn left onto IA 330
Continue on IA 330
Continue on IA 330
Turn left onto IA 14
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
Turn left onto M Avenue
Continue on County Road T37
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Turn left onto IA 14
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 20
Take the exit
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto US 63
Turn right onto US 63
Turn straight onto US 63
Turn right
Continue on Washington Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.5 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Creston, 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 Creston, IA
This is one driving day of about 191.1 miles and 4h 1m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.5 mi from Creston, IA · 1h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95.5 miles from Creston, 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
$29.03 one way
$58.05 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $32.00 | $64.00 |
| premium | $4.80 | $36.08 | $72.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.46 | $84.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.3 | 0 | $20.07 | $9.17 |
| Efficient EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.72 | $7.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.4 | 0 | $26.75 | $12.23 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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 Creston on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
44°F
Des Moines, IA
96 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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