Origin
Sibley, IA
Late night in Sibley on Wednesday
Local time
4:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sibley, IA to Waterloo, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h
Distance
241.3 mi
388 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 47m
★
6 AM
4h 0m
8 AM
4h 26m
10 AM
4h 9m
12 PM
4h 7m
3 PM
4h 11m
5 PM
4h 25m
8 PM
3h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sibley, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sibley, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 241.3 miles and takes about 4h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 60, Ia 9th Street, Iowa 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.72 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
120.7 miles from Sibley, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h drive with frequent turns across 241.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 60 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 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 Sibley, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Ia 9th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Iowa 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| the route | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oxford Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 18 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Highway 60
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sibley, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on 2nd Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue
2
Continue on Old Highway 60
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Old Highway 60
3
Turn right onto Ia 9th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Ia 9th Street
4
Take the ramp left toward Iowa 60: Worthington MN
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
Iowa 60: Worthington MN
5
Merge slight left
4.8 mi
·
5 min
6
Continue straight
5.1 mi
·
5 min
7
Continue straight
5.5 mi
·
6 min
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
112 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
9
Exit the roundabout
0.7 mi
·
1 min
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Oxford Street
95 ft
·
5 sec
·
Oxford Street
11
Exit the rotary
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward I 90: Albert Lea
246 ft
·
14 sec
·
I 90: Albert Lea
13
Exit the roundabout onto I 90: Albert Lea
115 mi
·
2 hr 3 min
·
I 90: Albert Lea
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 35 South: Des Moines
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 35 South: Des Moines
15
Merge slight left
40 mi
·
43 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
0.4 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
17
Turn slight right onto US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
81 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
US 18 East, IA 27 South: Mason City, Charles City
18
Take the exit slight right toward US 218 south: Waterloo
318 ft
·
8 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
19
Continue on US 218 south: Waterloo
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 218 south: Waterloo
20
Merge slight left onto Leo P Rooff Expressway
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
21
Take the exit slight right toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
22
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Washington Street
23
Turn right onto West 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
24
Arrive at your destination
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 120.7 miles from Sibley, IA, or about 2h into the drive.
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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.7 miles or 2h 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 17m
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 Sibley, 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 Sibley, IA
This is one driving day of about 241.3 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sibley, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 120.7 mi from Sibley, IA · 2h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 120.7 miles from Sibley, 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
$37.72 one way
$75.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
84 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.42 | $82.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.44 | $92.87 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.28 | $106.55 |
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: 84.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.4 | 0 | $25.34 | $11.58 |
| Efficient EV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.11 | $9.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.5 | 1 | $33.78 | $15.44 |
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 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
4:39 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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 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 Sibley, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 241.3 miles and takes about 4h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 60, Ia 9th Street, Iowa 60. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 120.7 miles from Sibley, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.72 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 drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Sibley, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Sibley, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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