Origin
Hiawatha, IA
Afternoon in Hiawatha on Sunday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hiawatha, IA to Waterloo, IA
Drive Time
58m
Distance
50.7 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hiawatha, IA
Azahel Calzada De La Luz
Waterloo, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Hiawatha, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 50.7 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 Avenue of the Saints, I 380, Washington Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.6 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.70 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
25.4 miles from Hiawatha, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 58m drive with frequent turns across 50.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 46.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 9th Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 58m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Blairs Ferry Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
9th Avenue
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
Navigation decision point
3
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
Turn left onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
Navigation decision point
8
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Turn left toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
3
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
47.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 46.6 mi | 50m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Blairs Ferry Road Northeast | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 9th Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Heefner Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 46.6 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hiawatha, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Heefner Street
174 ft
·
9 sec
·
Heefner Street
2
Turn right onto 9th Avenue
395 ft
·
24 sec
·
9th Avenue
3
Turn left onto Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Blairs Ferry Road Northeast
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I-380 south, IA 27 south: Waterloo
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
47 mi
·
50 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
7
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
8
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
9
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 25.4 miles from Hiawatha, IA, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.6 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 50.7 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.4 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 48m
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 Hiawatha, 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 Hiawatha, IA
This is one driving day of about 50.7 miles and 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hiawatha, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 46.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.4 mi from Hiawatha, IA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 50.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from Hiawatha, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.70 one way
$15.40 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $8.49 | $16.98 |
| premium | $4.80 | $9.57 | $19.14 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.26 | $22.53 |
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: 17.7 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 | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
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.
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
3:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°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
8 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
58m 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 Hiawatha, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 50.7 miles and takes about 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, I 380, Washington Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.4 miles from Hiawatha, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.70 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 58m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (9th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Blairs Ferry Road Northeast): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Hiawatha, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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