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Trip from Ogden, 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 57m

Distance

121.5 mi

196 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 49m ★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 1m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 13m
8 PM
1h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Ogden, IA, IA

Ogden, IA

Quang Nguyen Vinh

city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Waterloo, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ogden, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 121.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South 1st Street, H Avenue, 220th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.00 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.

Midpoint

60.8 miles from Ogden, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 121.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 57m drive with frequent turns across 121.5 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South 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 Ogden, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 57m 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 Ogden, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South 1st Street
H Avenue
220th Street
230th Street
I 35 North
US 20 East
US 63
Sergeant Road

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South 1st Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ogden, IA and Waterloo, IA.

1

Start on East Walnut Street

85 ft · 8 sec · East Walnut Street
2

Turn left onto South 1st Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · South 1st Street
3

Continue on H Avenue

0.2 mi · 28 sec · H Avenue
4

Take the exit right

0.3 mi · 37 sec
5

Merge slight left onto 220th Street

13 mi · 15 min · 220th Street
6

Continue on 230th Street

11 mi · 13 min · 230th Street
7

Take the exit slight right toward I 35 North: Minneapolis

0.3 mi · 49 sec · I 35 North: Minneapolis
8

Merge slight left

30 mi · 32 min
9

Take the exit slight right toward US 20 East: Waterloo

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 20 East: Waterloo
10

Merge slight left

61 mi · 1 hr 9 min
11

Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 63: Sergeant Road
12

Turn slight right

121 ft · 6 sec
13

Turn straight onto Sergeant Road

3.8 mi · 5 min · Sergeant Road
14

Turn right onto University Avenue

387 ft · 9 sec · University Avenue
15

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 45 sec
16

Turn right

0.1 mi · 10 sec
17

Continue on Washington Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Washington Street
18

Turn right onto West 4th Street

75 ft · 2 sec · West 4th Street
19

Arrive at your destination

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.8 miles from Ogden, IA, or about 58m into the drive.

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 27 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 60.8 miles or 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 36m

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 Ogden, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Ogden, IA

This is one driving day of about 121.5 miles and 1h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Ogden, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 60.8 mi from Ogden, IA · 58m into the drive

city located in Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Oakland, IA

61 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

Ames, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oakland, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 60.8 miles from Ogden, 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

$19.00 one way

$37.99 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 43 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $20.86 $41.71
premium $4.89 $23.38 $46.76
diesel $5.61 $26.83 $53.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$19

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$44–$69

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 42.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 36.4 0 $12.76 $5.83
Efficient EV 30.4 0 $10.63 $4.86
EV Truck/SUV 48.6 0 $17.01 $7.78

Gas CO2

43 kg

EV CO2

14 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Ogden, IA

Late night in Ogden on Saturday

Local time

12:45 AM

CDT

Current temp

51°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waterloo, IA

Late night in Waterloo on Saturday

Local time

12:45 AM

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

1h 57m 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 Ogden, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 121.5 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South 1st Street, H Avenue, 220th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 60.8 miles from Ogden, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.00 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 Ogden, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 1h 57m 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 Ogden, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Ogden, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

Waterloo, IA to Ogden, IA

Plan the drive back the other way.

121.5 mi 2h 24m

Explore more options from Ogden, IA or browse trips ending in Waterloo, IA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.