Origin
Pleasant Hill, IA
Night in Pleasant Hill on Thursday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pleasant Hill, IA to Waterloo, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
2h 24m
Distance
107.9 mi
174 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 14m
★
6 AM
2h 24m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pleasant Hill, IA
Tom Fisk
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Pleasant Hill, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 107.9 miles and takes about 2h 24m 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, US 20, Sanford Avenue 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 $16.87 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
54 miles from Pleasant Hill, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 107.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 24m drive with frequent turns across 107.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near North Hickory Boulevard.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (North Hickory Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Northeast 56th Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles (IA 14; IA 175 / 240th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
North Hickory Boulevard
Turn left onto North Hickory Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Northeast 56th Street
Turn left onto Northeast 56th Street
Navigation decision point
4
70.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
|
IA 14; IA 175 / 240th Street
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175 / 240th Street
Navigation decision point
5
79 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
107.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| US 20 | 18 mi | 20m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| N Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| 160th Street | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Sergeant Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Hill, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Doanes Park Road
62 ft
·
6 sec
·
Doanes Park Road
2
Turn right onto South Pleasant Hill Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pleasant Hill Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Maple Drive
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Maple Drive
4
Turn left onto North Hickory Boulevard
367 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Hickory Boulevard
5
Turn right onto IA 163
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East University Avenue
6
Turn left onto Northeast 56th Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Northeast 56th Street
7
Continue on East 56th Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East 56th Street
8
Continue on 34th Avenue Southwest
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
34th Avenue Southwest
Use the left lane.
9
Turn right onto US 6
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
12
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
13
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
14
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
15
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
16
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
17
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
18
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
19
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
20
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
21
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
22
Merge onto US 20
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US 20
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
24
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
25
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
27
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
28
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
29
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
30
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
31
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
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 54 miles from Pleasant Hill, IA, or about 1h 11m 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 24 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54 miles or 1h 11m 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 58m
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 Pleasant Hill, 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 Pleasant Hill, IA
This is one driving day of about 107.9 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Pleasant Hill, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 54 mi from Pleasant Hill, IA · 1h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54 miles from Pleasant Hill, 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
$16.87 one way
$33.74 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.52 | $37.04 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.76 | $41.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.82 | $47.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.4 | 0 | $11.33 | $5.18 |
| Efficient EV | 27 | 0 | $9.44 | $4.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.2 | 0 | $15.11 | $6.91 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (66% 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
Night in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
11:21 PM
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
15 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
2h 24m 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 Pleasant Hill, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 107.9 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Northeast Hubbell Road, US 20, Sanford Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 54 miles from Pleasant Hill, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.87 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (North Hickory Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.9 miles (Northeast 56th Street): Navigation decision point; at 70.1 miles (IA 14; IA 175 / 240th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Pleasant Hill, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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