Origin
Remsen, IA
Morning in Remsen on Friday
Local time
8:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Remsen, IA to Waterloo, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
213 mi
343 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 4m
★
6 AM
4h 17m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 26m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 42m
8 PM
4h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Remsen, IA
cottonbro studio
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Remsen, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 213 miles and takes about 4h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, Highway 20, State Highway 140 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 154.8 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.30 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.5 miles from Remsen, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 17m. Total distance: 213 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (20%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 17m drive with frequent turns across 213 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 154.8 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 0.4 miles in near IA 3 / State Highway 3.
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 4h 17m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
IA 3 / State Highway 3
At end of road, turn left onto IA 3 / State Highway 3
Navigation decision point
5
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
IA 140 / State Highway 140
Turn right onto IA 140 / State Highway 140
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
16.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
C66 / 320th Street
Turn left onto C66 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
6
25.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
213 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 154.8 mi | 2h 58m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| United States Highway 20 | 8.3 mi | 10m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Sergeant Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| 320th Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| Shamrock Avenue | 2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 154.8 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Remsen, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Washington Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto IA 3
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 3
3
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
5
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
6
Continue on L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
9
Continue on US 20
155 mi
·
2 hr 58 min
·
220th Street
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
11
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
12
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
14
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
15
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
16
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
17
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
18
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 106.5 miles from Remsen, IA, or about 2h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.8 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.5 miles or 2h 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 3h 30m
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 Remsen, 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 Remsen, IA
This is one driving day of about 213 miles and 4h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Remsen, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on 220th Street for about 154.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.5 mi from Remsen, IA · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 106.5 miles from Remsen, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 220th Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 154.8 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.30 one way
$66.60 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $36.56 | $73.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $40.99 | $81.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.03 | $94.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.37 | $10.22 |
| Efficient EV | 53.3 | 0 | $18.64 | $8.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.2 | 1 | $29.82 | $13.63 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Morning in Waterloo on Friday
Local time
8:42 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
19 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
4h 17m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Remsen, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 213 miles and takes about 4h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, Highway 20, State Highway 140. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 106.5 miles from Remsen, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.30 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (IA 3 / State Highway 3): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles (IA 140 / State Highway 140): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.3 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Remsen, 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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