Origin
Maquoketa, IA
Afternoon in Maquoketa on Wednesday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Maquoketa, IA to Waterloo, IA
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 17m
Distance
104.7 mi
169 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 8m
★
6 AM
2h 18m
8 AM
2h 37m
10 AM
2h 25m
12 PM
2h 23m
3 PM
2h 26m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Maquoketa, IA
Diego F. Parra
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 104.7-mile drive from Maquoketa, IA to Waterloo, IA is a straightforward 2-hour and 17-minute journey that fits comfortably within a single day. Expect a fuel cost of around $16 for this trip. As both your origin and destination are in the Midwest, you'll experience a consistent regional feel throughout. With no designated stops on this route, it's ideal for a direct trip, allowing you to reach your destination with minimal delay. It's a practical choice for a quick transit between these two Iowa communities.
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
52.4 miles from Maquoketa, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Drive Character
The drive is a mixed bag, with 37% of the route utilizing highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 42 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a more continuous driving experience before transitioning to other roads. Expect the road character to shift as you progress, incorporating State Highway 64 and County Home Road into your path. This blend means you won't be on a monotonous interstate for the entire duration, providing some variety in your driving environment.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 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 42 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near IA 64 / West Platt Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 12 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 (IA 64 / West Platt Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.5 miles (IA 64; IA 136 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 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
|
IA 64 / West Platt Street
Turn left onto IA 64 / West Platt Street
Navigation decision point
4
18.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
IA 64; IA 136 / East Main Street
Turn right onto IA 64; IA 136 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
33.8 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
56.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
|
County Home Road
Enter roundabout onto County Home Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
101.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m 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 | 42 mi | 45m |
| State Highway 64 | 28.6 mi | 42m |
| County Home Road | 16.4 mi | 22m |
| US 151 | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Railroad Street | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Fairview Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Linn-Jones Road | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 42 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maquoketa, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on South Main Street
125 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto IA 64
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Platt Street
3
Continue on IA 64
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 64
4
Continue on IA 64
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Railroad Street
5
Continue on IA 64
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 64
6
Continue on IA 64
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Isabel Street
7
Turn right onto IA 64; IA 136
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
8
Continue on IA 64
14 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 64
9
Continue on IA 64
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Highway 64 East
10
Continue on IA 64
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
East 3rd Street
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
12
Merge onto US 151
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 151
13
Turn right onto Linn-Jones Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Linn-Jones Road
14
Turn left onto CR E34
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Fairview Road
15
Continue on CR E34
12 mi
·
16 min
·
County Home Road
16
Enter roundabout onto CR E34
120 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Home Road
17
Continue on CR E34
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Home Road
18
Enter roundabout onto County Home Road
134 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Home Road
19
Continue on County Home Road
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
County Home Road
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
21
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
42 mi
·
45 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
22
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
23
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
24
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
25
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 17-minute trip, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to arrive and settle in without feeling rushed. Since there are no specific stops recommended, you can decide on your own pace for fuel or rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $16 estimated cost is based on the total mileage. The 42-mile stretch on Avenue of the Saints is a good opportunity to maintain a steady speed, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before entering that longer segment.
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 52.4 miles from Maquoketa, IA, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42 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 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 16m 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 55m
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 Maquoketa, 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 Maquoketa, IA
This is one driving day of about 104.7 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Maquoketa, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 42 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.4 mi from Maquoketa, IA · 1h 16m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.4 miles from Maquoketa, 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
$16.37 one way
$32.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $17.97 | $35.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.15 | $40.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.12 | $46.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.99 | $5.03 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.16 | $4.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.9 | 0 | $14.66 | $6.70 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 Wednesday
Local time
3:53 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Marion, IA
52 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
3 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
2h 17m 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 Maquoketa, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 104.7 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 64, County Home Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.4 miles from Maquoketa, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.37 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 2h 17m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 64 / West Platt Street): Navigation decision point; at 18.5 miles (IA 64; IA 136 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 33.8 miles: Navigation decision point.
The route from Maquoketa, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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