Origin
Melcher-Dallas, IA
Morning in Melcher-Dallas on Saturday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melcher-Dallas, 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
3h 4m
Distance
140.8 mi
227 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 53m
★
6 AM
3h 4m
8 AM
3h 27m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 26m
8 PM
2h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melcher-Dallas, IA
Talena Reese
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 140.8 miles and takes about 3h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Northeast Hubbell Road, State Highway 5, US 20 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.01 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
70.4 miles from Melcher-Dallas, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 140.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 4m drive with frequent turns across 140.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Northeast Hubbell Road is the longest continuous segment at about 35.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR S45 / B Street Northwest.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 140.8 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR S45 / B Street Northwest
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45 / B Street Northwest
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest
Turn right onto CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest
Navigation decision point
5
37.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
5
111.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 26m in
|
210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
140.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Altoona along the way.
Altoona
37.4 mi in
|
~49m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| State Highway 5 | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| US 20 | 18 mi | 20m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| County Road S45 | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway | 9.1 mi | 10m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melcher-Dallas, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on CR S45
462 ft
·
14 sec
·
Northeast Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto CR S45
367 ft
·
9 sec
·
B Street Northwest
3
Turn right onto CR S45
461 ft
·
9 sec
·
1st Street Northwest
4
Continue on CR S45
9.2 mi
·
16 min
·
County Road S45
5
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
this road
6
Continue on IA 5
18 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 5
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
8
Merge onto US 65
9.1 mi
·
10 min
·
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
this road
11
Turn right onto US 6
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
13
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
14
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
15
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
16
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
17
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
18
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
19
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
20
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
21
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
22
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
23
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
24
Merge onto US 20
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US 20
25
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
26
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
27
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
28
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
29
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
30
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
31
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
32
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
33
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.4 miles from Melcher-Dallas, IA, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.4 miles or 1h 29m 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 31m
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 Melcher-Dallas, 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 Melcher-Dallas, IA
This is one driving day of about 140.8 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Melcher-Dallas, 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 70.4 mi from Melcher-Dallas, IA · 1h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 70.4 miles from Melcher-Dallas, 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
$22.01 one way
$44.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
49 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $24.17 | $48.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $27.10 | $54.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.09 | $62.17 |
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: 49.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.78 | $6.76 |
| Efficient EV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.32 | $5.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.3 | 0 | $19.71 | $9.01 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Morning in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
70 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
16 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
3h 4m 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 Melcher-Dallas, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 140.8 miles and takes about 3h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Hubbell Road, State Highway 5, US 20. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 70.4 miles from Melcher-Dallas, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 140.8 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR S45 / B Street Northwest): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (CR S45 / 1st Street Northwest): Navigation decision point; at 37.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Melcher-Dallas, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Altoona along the way.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Waterloo, IA
More from Melcher-Dallas, IA
More trips to Waterloo, IA
Explore more options from Melcher-Dallas, IA or browse trips ending in Waterloo, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.