Origin
Sheldon, IA
Late night in Sheldon on Wednesday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sheldon, IA to Waterloo, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 47m
Distance
231.7 mi
373 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 34m
★
6 AM
4h 48m
8 AM
5h 15m
10 AM
4h 57m
12 PM
4h 54m
3 PM
4h 58m
5 PM
5h 13m
8 PM
4h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sheldon, IA
Jul L. G.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sheldon, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 231.7 miles and takes about 4h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 220th Street, 20th Avenue, State Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 153.8 miles on 220th Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $36.22 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
115.8 miles from Sheldon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 47m drive with frequent turns across 231.7 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.
220th Street is the longest continuous segment at about 153.8 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 early in the drive near IA 60 Business / 2nd Avenue.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 60 Business / 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 60 Business / 2nd Avenue
Turn left onto IA 60 Business / 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
8.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
L22 / Log Avenue
Turn left onto L22 / Log Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
19.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Turn right onto IA 143 / Nettle Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
4
31.5 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
IA 3 / 490th Street
Turn left onto IA 3 / 490th Street
Navigation decision point
5
231.6 mi into trip
|
~4h 47m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 220th Street | 153.8 mi | 2h 57m |
| 20th Avenue | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 3 | 8.6 mi | 11m |
| IA 60 Business | 7.5 mi | 9m |
| Armstrong Avenue | 6 mi | 8m |
| D Avenue | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| Log Avenue | 5.6 mi | 7m |
| Nettle Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 153.8 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sheldon, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on 9th Street
25 ft
·
5 sec
·
9th Street
2
Turn left onto IA 60 Business
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue
3
Take the ramp onto IA 60 Business
7.5 mi
·
9 min
·
IA 60 Business
4
Turn left onto L22
5.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Log Avenue
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto IA 10
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
460th Street
6
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Garfield Street
7
Continue on IA 10
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
460th Street
8
Turn right onto IA 143
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Nettle Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on IA 143
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
D Avenue
10
Continue on IA 143
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Ames Avenue
11
Turn left onto IA 3
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
490th Street
12
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 3
13
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
500th Street
14
Turn straight onto IA 3
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
15
Turn left onto IA 3
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
530th Street
16
Turn right onto IA 7
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
V Avenue
17
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
18
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 7
19
Continue on IA 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 7
20
Turn right onto 20th Avenue
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
20th Avenue
21
Continue on CR M27
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Armstrong Avenue
22
At end of road, turn left onto US 20
154 mi
·
2 hr 57 min
·
220th Street
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
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 115.8 miles from Sheldon, IA, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.8 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.8 miles or 2h 31m 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 56m
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 Sheldon, 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 Sheldon, IA
This is one driving day of about 231.7 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sheldon, 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 153.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 115.8 mi from Sheldon, IA · 2h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.8 miles from Sheldon, 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 153.8 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
$36.22 one way
$72.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.77 | $79.54 |
| premium | $4.89 | $44.59 | $89.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.16 | $102.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.5 | 0 | $24.33 | $11.12 |
| Efficient EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.27 | $9.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.7 | 1 | $32.44 | $14.83 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Wednesday
Local time
5:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Denison, IA
116 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
29 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 47m 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 Sheldon, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 231.7 miles and takes about 4h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are 220th Street, 20th Avenue, State Highway 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 115.8 miles from Sheldon, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.22 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 47m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (IA 60 Business / 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.9 miles (L22 / Log Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.5 miles (IA 143 / Nettle Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Sheldon, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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