Origin
Dallas Center, IA
Afternoon in Dallas Center on Saturday
Local time
12:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dallas Center, IA to Waterloo, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
128.9 mi
207 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dallas Center, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dallas Center, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 128.9 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northeast Hubbell Road, US 20, Sanford Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.15 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.4 miles from Dallas Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| US 20 | 18 mi | 20m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| I 80 | 13 mi | 14m |
| 240th Street | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| N Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| 160th Street | 4.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dallas Center, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
32 ft
·
5 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto CR R16
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
14th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto IA 44
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sugar Grove Avenue
4
Continue on IA 44
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
240th Street
5
Continue on IA 44
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West 1st Street
6
Continue on IA 44
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East 1st Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
8
Merge onto IA 141
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
Grimes Boulevard
9
Continue on IA 141
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on IA 141
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
11
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
12
Merge onto I 80; I 35
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
I 80; I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 35; I 80
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 35; I 80
14
Continue on I 80; I 35
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
I 80; I 35
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 65
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
18
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
19
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
20
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
21
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
22
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
23
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
24
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
25
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
26
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
27
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
28
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
29
Merge onto US 20
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US 20
30
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
31
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
32
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
34
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
35
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
36
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
37
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
38
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.4 miles from Dallas Center, IA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.4 miles or 1h 22m 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 20m
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 Dallas Center, 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 Dallas Center, IA
This is one driving day of about 128.9 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Dallas Center, 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.4 miles from Dallas Center, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 26.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR R16 / 14th Street
Turn right onto CR R16 / 14th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 44 / Sugar Grove Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto IA 44 / Sugar Grove Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
12.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Turn left toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Davenport
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-35 north, I-80 east: Minneapolis, Dave...
6
22.3 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
26.8 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 65
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.15 one way
$40.30 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.13 | $44.25 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.81 | $49.61 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.46 | $56.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.7 | 0 | $13.53 | $6.19 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.28 | $5.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.6 | 0 | $18.05 | $8.25 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Afternoon in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
12:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
128.9 mi in 2h 50m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Northeast Hubbell Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 21 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR R16 / 14th Street.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 128.9 miles you will encounter 21 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: near the start (CR R16 / 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 44 / Sugar Grove Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dallas Center, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Davenport and Bondurant.
Davenport
12.7 mi in
|
~20m
Bondurant
26.8 mi in
|
~37m
|
via US 65
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 128.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waterloo, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR R16 / 14th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 44 / Sugar Grove Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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