Origin
Nashua, IA
Afternoon in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
1:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nashua, 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
39m
Distance
40.1 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 39m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nashua, IA
Andhika Indra Pratama
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Nashua, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 40.1 miles and takes about 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sample Street, Avenue of the Saints, US 218 south for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sample Street | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| US 218 south | — | — |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | — | — |
| Downtown Riverfront | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
| West 4th Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Sample Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nashua, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto Sample Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sample Street
3
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
4
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
32 mi
·
36 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo
318 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
6
Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
7
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
8
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
9
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Washington Street
10
Turn right onto West 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
11
Arrive at your destination
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.88 | $13.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.72 | $15.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Saturday
Local time
1:01 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
40.1 mi in 39m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Sample Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Nashua, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 39m 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 Nashua, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 39m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
39m 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
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Nashua, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
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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