Trip from Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 35m

Distance

161.9 mi

261 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min

4 AM

2h 25m ★

6 AM

2h 35m

8 AM

2h 56m

10 AM

2h 43m

12 PM

2h 41m

3 PM

2h 44m

5 PM

2h 55m

8 PM

2h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 161.9 miles and takes about 2h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, US 71 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.31 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.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

80.9 miles from Storm Lake, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 35m. Total distance: 161.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 35m drive with frequent turns across 161.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

West Lakeshore Drive 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 2h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
West Lakeshore Drive	—	—
130th Avenue	—	—
US 71	—	—
US 20 East	—	—
US 63	—	—
Sergeant Road	—	—
University Avenue	—	—
Washington Street	—	—

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Lakeshore Drive — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Storm Lake, IA and Waterloo, IA.

1

Start on Grand Avenue

0.2 mi · 40 sec · Grand Avenue

2

Continue on West Lakeshore Drive

3.1 mi · 7 min · West Lakeshore Drive

3

Continue on 130th Avenue

11 mi · 14 min · 130th Avenue

4

Continue on US 71

0.2 mi · 20 sec · US 71

5

Take the exit left toward US 20 East: Fort Dodge

0.3 mi · 51 sec · US 20 East: Fort Dodge

6

Merge slight left

142 mi · 2 hr 44 min

7

Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 63: Sergeant Road

8

Turn slight right

121 ft · 6 sec

9

Turn straight onto Sergeant Road

3.8 mi · 5 min · Sergeant Road

10

Turn right onto University Avenue

387 ft · 9 sec · University Avenue

11

Turn straight

0.3 mi · 45 sec

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

75 ft · 2 sec · West 4th Street

15

Arrive at your destination

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.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 80.9 miles from Storm Lake, IA, or about 1h 17m 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 36 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 80.9 miles or 1h 17m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 7m

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 Storm Lake, 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 Storm Lake, IA

This is one driving day of about 161.9 miles and 2h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Storm Lake, 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 80.9 mi from Storm Lake, IA · 1h 17m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Webster City, IA

81 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

Lake City, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Webster City, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.9 miles from Storm Lake, 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

$25.31 one way

$50.62 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$27.79	$55.58
premium	$4.89	$31.16	$62.31
diesel	$5.61	$35.75	$71.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	48.6	$17.00	$7.77
Efficient EV	40.5	$14.17	$6.48
EV Truck/SUV	64.8	$22.67	$10.36

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Storm Lake, IA

Morning in Storm Lake on Thursday

Local time

11:17 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waterloo, IA

Morning in Waterloo on Thursday

Local time

11:17 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

6 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

2h 35m 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 Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 161.9 miles and takes about 2h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Lakeshore Drive, 130th Avenue, US 71. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 80.9 miles from Storm Lake, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.31 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.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 2h 35m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Storm Lake, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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