Origin
Greenfield, IA
Afternoon in Greenfield on Saturday
Local time
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Greenfield, 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 55m
Distance
170.8 mi
275 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 44m
★
6 AM
2h 55m
8 AM
3h 18m
10 AM
3h 3m
12 PM
3h 1m
3 PM
3h 4m
5 PM
3h 16m
8 PM
2h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Greenfield, IA
Sam McCool
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Greenfield, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 170.8 miles and takes about 2h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South 1st Street, Southeast Kent Street, Southeast 6th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.70 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
85.4 miles from Greenfield, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South 1st Street | — | — |
| Southeast Kent Street | — | — |
| Southeast 6th Street | — | — |
| Highway 25 | — | — |
| I 35 | — | — |
| US 6 West | — | — |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | — | — |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
South 1st Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Greenfield, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Public Square
315 ft
·
18 sec
·
Public Square
2
Turn right onto South 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
South 1st Street
3
Turn left onto Southeast Kent Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
Southeast Kent Street
4
Turn left onto Southeast 6th Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Southeast 6th Street
5
Continue on State Highway 25
12 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 25
6
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
7
Merge slight left
36 mi
·
38 min
8
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
9
Keep slight left
4.5 mi
·
5 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
11
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Turn left onto Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
14
Continue on South Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
15
Continue on 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
16
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
17
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
18
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
19
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
20
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
21
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
22
Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 20 East: Waterloo
23
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
20 min
24
Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 63: Sergeant Road
25
Turn slight right
121 ft
·
6 sec
26
Turn straight onto Sergeant Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
27
Turn right onto University Avenue
387 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
28
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
29
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
30
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
31
Turn right onto West 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
32
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.4 miles from Greenfield, IA, or about 1h 27m 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 38 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.4 miles or 1h 27m 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 23m
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 Greenfield, 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 Greenfield, IA
This is one driving day of about 170.8 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Greenfield, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.4 miles from Greenfield, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.70 one way
$53.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.32 | $58.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.87 | $65.74 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.71 | $75.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.93 | $8.20 |
| Efficient EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.83 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.91 | $10.93 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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
2:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
85 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
18 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 55m 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?
170.8 mi in 2h 55m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: South 1st Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Greenfield, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 2h 55m 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 Greenfield, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 55m. Total distance: 170.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Greenfield, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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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