Origin
Sioux Center, IA
Late night in Sioux Center on Wednesday
Local time
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sioux Center, IA to Waterloo, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 57m
Distance
241.5 mi
389 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
4h 44m
★
6 AM
4h 58m
8 AM
5h 25m
10 AM
5h 7m
12 PM
5h 5m
3 PM
5h 9m
5 PM
5h 24m
8 PM
4h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sioux Center, IA
Tom Fisk
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Sioux Center, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 241.5 miles and takes about 4h 57m 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 $37.76 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 Sioux Center, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 57m drive with frequent turns across 241.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 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 12.8 miles in near 450th Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 57m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.8 miles (450th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.7 miles (L14 / Kiwi Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
12.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
450th Street
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
17.7 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
L14 / Kiwi Avenue
Turn right onto L14 / Kiwi Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
44.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
C66 / 320th Street
Turn left onto C66 / 320th Street
Navigation decision point
6
54.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m in
|
US 20 / Highway 20
Turn left onto US 20 / Highway 20
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
241.5 mi into trip
|
~4h 57m 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 |
| 450th Street | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| North Main Avenue | 5.7 mi | 9m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
220th Street
— 154.8 mi, about 2h 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sioux Center, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on US 75
5.7 mi
·
9 min
·
North Main Avenue
2
Turn left onto IA 10
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
450th Street
3
Continue on IA 10
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Highway 10 West
4
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
8th Street Southwest
5
Continue on IA 10
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
450th Street
6
Enter roundabout onto 450th Street
79 ft
·
4 sec
·
450th Street
7
Continue on 450th Street
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
450th Street
8
Turn right onto IA 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Kennedy Avenue
9
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
State Highway 10
10
Continue on IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
11
Turn right onto L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
12
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
13
Continue on IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
14
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
15
Turn right onto Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
16
Continue on L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
17
Turn left onto US 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on US 20
8.3 mi
·
10 min
·
United States Highway 20
19
Continue on US 20
155 mi
·
2 hr 58 min
·
220th Street
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
21
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
22
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
24
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
25
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
26
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
27
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
28
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 120.7 miles from Sioux Center, IA, or about 2h 35m 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 80 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.7 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
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 Sioux Center, 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 Sioux Center, IA
This is one driving day of about 241.5 miles and 4h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Sioux Center, 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 120.7 mi from Sioux Center, IA · 2h 35m 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 Sioux Center, 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
$37.76 one way
$75.51 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $41.45 | $82.91 |
| premium | $4.89 | $46.47 | $92.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $53.32 | $106.64 |
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: 84.5 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 | 72.5 | 0 | $25.36 | $11.59 |
| Efficient EV | 60.4 | 0 | $21.13 | $9.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.6 | 1 | $33.81 | $15.46 |
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
5:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Denison, IA
121 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
7 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 57m 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 Sioux Center, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 241.5 miles and takes about 4h 57m 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 120.7 miles from Sioux Center, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.76 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 57m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.8 miles (450th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 17.7 miles (L14 / Kiwi Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 44.8 miles (C66 / 320th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Sioux Center, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Waterloo, IA
More from Sioux Center, IA
More trips to Waterloo, IA
Explore more options from Sioux Center, IA or browse trips ending in Waterloo, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Sioux Center, IA or Waterloo, IA on MapSof.net.