Origin
Roland, IA
Afternoon in Roland on Thursday
Local time
4:24 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Roland, IA to Waterloo, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 46m
Distance
89 mi
143 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 39m
★
6 AM
1h 47m
8 AM
2h 3m
10 AM
1h 52m
12 PM
1h 51m
3 PM
1h 53m
5 PM
2h 2m
8 PM
1h 42m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Roland, IA
TStudio
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Roland, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, I 35, Sergeant Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 60.6 miles on US 20. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.91 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
44.5 miles from Roland, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 46m. Total distance: 89 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 46m highway drive covering 89 miles, with most of the trip on US 20 and I 35. The longest continuous stretch is about 60.6 miles on US 20.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 is the longest continuous segment at about 60.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20 and I 35. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
3.4 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the ramp toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
Navigation decision point
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
3
3.8 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
22.6 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward US 20 East: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
4
83.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 63: Sergeant Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
5
89 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 60.6 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 35 | 18.8 mi | 20m |
| Sergeant Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| 130th Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| East Maple Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| US 63 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| University Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20
— 60.6 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Roland, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on CR E18
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
East Maple Street
2
Continue on CR E18
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
130th Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I-35 north: Minneapolis
4
Merge onto I 35
19 mi
·
20 min
·
I 35
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
6
Merge onto US 20
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
US 20
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
8
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
9
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
11
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
12
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
13
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
14
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
15
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 44.5 miles from Roland, IA, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.6 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.5 miles or 52m 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 28m
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 Roland, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Roland, IA
This is one driving day of about 89 miles and 1h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Roland, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 20 for about 60.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.5 mi from Roland, IA · 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 44.5 miles from Roland, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 20 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.6 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.91 one way
$27.83 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.28 | $30.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.13 | $34.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.65 | $39.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| Efficient EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.79 | $3.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.46 | $5.70 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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
Afternoon in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
4:24 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
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
1h 46m 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 Roland, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 89 miles and takes about 1h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, I 35, Sergeant Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.5 miles from Roland, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.91 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 1h 46m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 3.8 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Roland, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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