Origin
Monticello, IA
Late night in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monticello, 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
1h 18m
Distance
74.3 mi
120 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 13m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 31m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monticello, IA
Serena Koi
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Monticello, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 74.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East 1st Street, North Cedar Street, Highway 38 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.62 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 74.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 18m drive with frequent turns across 74.3 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.
East 1st Street 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 Monticello, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 18m 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 Monticello, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East 1st Street | — | — |
| North Cedar Street | — | — |
| Highway 38 | — | — |
| 3rd Street | — | — |
| Market Street | — | — |
| 5th Street | — | — |
| I-380 north | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East 1st Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monticello, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on North Maple Street
72 ft
·
5 sec
·
North Maple Street
2
Turn right onto East 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
East 1st Street
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Cedar Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cedar Street
4
Continue on State Highway 38
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 38
5
Continue on 3rd Street
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
3rd Street
6
Continue on State Highway 38
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 38
7
Continue on Market Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Market Street
8
Turn right onto 3rd Street
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
3rd Street
9
Continue on State Highway 38
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 38
10
Continue on 5th Street
433 ft
·
14 sec
·
5th Street
11
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
12
Merge slight left
49 mi
·
56 min
13
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
14
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
15
Turn left onto West 4th Street
397 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
16
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 37.1 mi from Monticello, IA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.1 miles from Monticello, 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
$11.62 one way
$23.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.75 | $25.51 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.30 | $28.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.40 | $32.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.80 | $3.57 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.50 | $2.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.40 | $4.76 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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
Late night in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
3:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Manchester, IA
37 mi in
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
21 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 18m 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 Monticello, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 74.3 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East 1st Street, North Cedar Street, Highway 38. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.1 miles from Monticello, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.62 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 Monticello, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 18m 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 Monticello, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Monticello, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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.
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