The drive from Mediapolis, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 141.9 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 Avenue of the Saints, State Highway 92, US Highway 61 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 101 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.18 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
71 miles from Mediapolis, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 141.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Expect a 2h 50m drive with frequent turns across 141.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 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 101 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 Main Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 9 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 (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Main Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward US 61 north: Muscatine
Navigation decision point
Toward US 61 north: Muscatine
5
19.3 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Columbus Junction
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Colu...
4
19.6 mi into trip|~23m in|IA 92 / State Highway 92
Turn left onto IA 92 / State Highway 92
Navigation decision point
6
138.5 mi into trip|~2h 44m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mediapolis, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Cr G48 East: Grandview and Columbus Junction.
Cr G48 East: Grandview
19.3 mi in|~22m
Columbus Junction
19.3 mi in|~22m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
101 mi
1h 53m
State Highway 92
16.9 mi
25m
US Highway 61
12.4 mi
14m
North Baxter Street
6.1 mi
6m
I 380
2.9 mi
4m
Oak Street
0.7 mi
1m
Washington Street
0.4 mi
1m
Main Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 101 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mediapolis, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on North Orchard Street
73 ft·5 sec·North Orchard Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi·38 sec·Main Street
3
Turn straight onto Mediapolis Road
0.2 mi·20 sec·Mediapolis Road
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward US 61 north: Muscatine
5
Merge onto US 61
12 mi·14 min·US Highway 61
6
Continue on US 61
6.1 mi·6 min·North Baxter Street
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward IA 92 west, CR G48 east: Grandview, Columbus Junction
8
Turn left onto IA 92
8.3 mi·12 min·State Highway 92
9
Continue on IA 92
0.7 mi·1 min·Oak Street
10
Continue on IA 92
8.6 mi·12 min·State Highway 92
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
12
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
101 mi·1 hr 53 min·Avenue of the Saints
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi·4 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
14
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
15
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft·13 sec·West 4th Street
16
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 71 miles from Mediapolis, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101 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 31 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71 miles or 1h 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 2h 19m
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 Mediapolis, 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 Mediapolis, IA
This is one driving day of about 141.9 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Mediapolis, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 101 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 71 mi from Mediapolis, IA
· 1h 28m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.18 one way
$44.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.36
$48.72
premium
$4.89
$27.31
$54.61
diesel
$5.61
$31.33
$62.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.6
0
$14.90
$6.81
Efficient EV
35.5
0
$12.42
$5.68
EV Truck/SUV
56.8
0
$19.87
$9.08
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Mediapolis, IA
Afternoon
in Mediapolis on Friday
Local time
12:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon
in Waterloo on Friday
Local time
12:37 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mediapolis, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 141.9 miles and takes about 2h 50m 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 92, US Highway 61. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71 miles from Mediapolis, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.18 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 2h 50m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 19.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Mediapolis, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Cr G48 East: Grandview and Columbus Junction.
