Origin
New Hampton, IA
Morning in New Hampton on Saturday
Local time
8:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Hampton, 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
52m
Distance
40.1 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 48m
★
6 AM
0h 52m
8 AM
1h 1m
10 AM
0h 55m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 0m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Hampton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 40.1-mile drive from New Hampton to Waterloo, Iowa, can easily be completed in about 52 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $6, it's an economical journey through the Midwest. The route is primarily highway-focused, with a significant 91% share on main roads like US 18. Since there are no recommended stops and the drive is short, you'll have plenty of flexibility. This is a quick connection between two points in Iowa, perfect for a simple transit or a short excursion.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 52m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 40.1-mile trip, with 91% of the journey on main roads. You'll spend the longest uninterrupted stretch, 36.5 miles, on US 18. This suggests a drive characterized by consistent speed limits and straightforward navigation. The route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing complexities and maximizing your time on the open road as you move through the Iowa landscape.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 18 is the longest continuous segment at about 36.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 18 and McCloud Avenue. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near 235th Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from New Hampton, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 52m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (235th Street): Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
2 of 2 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
235th Street
Turn right onto 235th Street
Navigation decision point
5
40 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 18 | 36.5 mi | 45m |
| McCloud Avenue | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| South Linn Avenue | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 235th Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 18
— 36.5 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Hampton, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on US 63 Business
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South Linn Avenue
2
Continue on US 63 Business
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
McCloud Avenue
3
Turn right onto 235th Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
235th Street
4
Turn left onto US 18; US 63
36 mi
·
45 min
·
US 18; US 63
5
Turn straight
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
6
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
7
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
8
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20 mi from New Hampton, IA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20 miles from New Hampton, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Waterloo, IA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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
Morning in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
8:30 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 17 to 22 mph
58% chance
Live forecast
47°F
Denver, IA
20 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
9 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
52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from New Hampton, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 40.1 miles and takes about 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 18, McCloud Avenue, South Linn Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 20 miles from New Hampton, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.27 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 New Hampton, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 52m with 91% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (235th Street): Navigation decision point; at 40 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from New Hampton, 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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