Drive Time
3h 58m
Distance
247.4 mi
398 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
The drive from Red Oak, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 247.4 miles and takes about 3h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Broadway Street, M Avenue, 550th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.58 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
123.7 miles from Red Oak, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 58m drive with frequent turns across 247.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 3h 58m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Red Oak, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Broadway Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| M Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 550th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Adair Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| White Pole Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southwest 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 7th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak, IA and Waterloo, IA.
Start on East Reed Street
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
Continue on M Avenue
Continue on 550th Street
Continue on Adair Street
Continue on 550th Street
Turn right onto White Pole Road
Continue on Southwest 7th Street
Continue on West 7th Street
Continue on White Pole Road
Continue on East 7th Street
Turn left onto 650th Street
Take the exit right
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
Turn left onto Marsh Avenue
Continue on South Main Street
Continue on 160th Street
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
Turn right onto 240th Street
Turn left onto M Avenue
Continue on County Road T37
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Turn left onto N Avenue
Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto Sergeant Road
Turn right onto University Avenue
Turn straight
Turn right
Continue on Washington Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.7 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, IA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA
This is one driving day of about 247.4 miles and 3h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 123.7 mi from Red Oak, IA · 1h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
124 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 123.7 miles from Red Oak, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$37.58 one way
$75.16 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.42 | $82.85 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.70 | $93.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.96 | $109.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 74.2 | 0 | $25.98 | $11.88 |
| Efficient EV | 61.9 | 0 | $21.65 | $9.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 99 | 1 | $34.64 | $15.83 |
Gas CO2
87 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Red Oak on Sunday
Local time
7:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
7:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
West Des Moines, IA
124 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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