Origin
Manson, IA
Evening in Manson on Thursday
Local time
5:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
120.9 mi
195 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 50m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 120.9 miles and takes about 1h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 10th Avenue, 8th Street, Tabor Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.90 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.
Midpoint
60.4 miles from Manson, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 120.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 58m drive with frequent turns across 120.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
10th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 58m 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 Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 10th Avenue | — | — |
| 8th Street | — | — |
| Tabor Avenue | — | — |
| 190th Street | — | — |
| 220th Street | — | — |
| Sigourney Avenue | — | — |
| US 63 | — | — |
| Sergeant Road | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
10th Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manson, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
36 ft
·
7 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto 10th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
10th Avenue
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
8th Street
4
Continue on Tabor Avenue
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Tabor Avenue
5
Turn right onto 190th Street
26 ft
·
6 sec
·
190th Street
6
Turn left onto Tabor Avenue
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Tabor Avenue
7
At the end of the road, turn right onto 220th Street
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
·
220th Street
8
Turn left onto Sigourney Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Sigourney Avenue
9
Turn left
112 mi
·
2 hr 8 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 63: Sergeant Road
11
Turn slight right
121 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn straight onto Sergeant Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
13
Turn right onto University Avenue
387 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
14
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
15
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
16
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
17
Turn right onto West 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
18
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.4 miles from Manson, IA, or about 59m 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 27 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.4 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 37m
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 Manson, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manson, IA
This is one driving day of about 120.9 miles and 1h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Manson, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 60.4 mi from Manson, IA · 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.4 miles from Manson, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.90 one way
$37.80 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.75 | $41.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.27 | $46.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.69 | $53.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.69 | $5.80 |
| Efficient EV | 30.2 | 0 | $10.58 | $4.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.4 | 0 | $16.93 | $7.74 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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
Evening in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
5:00 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
20 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
1h 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 Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 120.9 miles and takes about 1h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 10th Avenue, 8th Street, Tabor Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 60.4 miles from Manson, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.90 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.
The drive from Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Manson, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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