Origin
Washington, IA
Late night in Washington on Saturday
Local time
2:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Washington, IA to Waterloo, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
111.2 mi
179 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 12m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Washington, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Washington, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 111.2 miles and takes about 2h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, County Road G36, I 380 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.38 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
55.6 miles from Washington, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 111.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (3%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 11m drive with frequent turns across 111.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 97.4 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 West Main Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 11m drive. You will face about 11 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 (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (North 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 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
|
West Main Street
Turn right onto West Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 2nd Avenue
Turn left onto North 2nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
North 4th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto North 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
10 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
107.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 97.4 mi | 1h 49m |
| County Road G36 | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| County Highway W61 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Co Hwy W61 / Riverside Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East 7th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| North 12th Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 97.4 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Washington, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on South Marion Avenue
92 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Marion Avenue
2
Turn right onto West Main Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto North 2nd Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
North 2nd Avenue
4
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
East 7th Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto North 4th Avenue
102 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 4th Avenue
6
Turn right onto East 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
East 7th Street
7
Turn left onto North 12th Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
North 12th Avenue
8
Continue on County Highway W61
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway W61
9
Continue on Co Hwy W61 / Riverside Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Co Hwy W61 / Riverside Road
10
Turn right onto County Road G36
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road G36
11
Continue on 220th Street
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
220th Street
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
13
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
97 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
15
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
16
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
17
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 55.6 miles from Washington, IA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.4 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 24 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.6 miles or 1h 7m 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 47m
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 Washington, 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 Washington, IA
This is one driving day of about 111.2 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Washington, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 97.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.6 mi from Washington, IA · 1h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
56 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.6 miles from Washington, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.4 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.38 one way
$34.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.09 | $38.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.40 | $42.80 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.55 | $49.10 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.4 | 0 | $11.68 | $5.34 |
| Efficient EV | 27.8 | 0 | $9.73 | $4.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.5 | 0 | $15.57 | $7.12 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
2:26 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
1 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 11m 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 Washington, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 111.2 miles and takes about 2h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, County Road G36, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.6 miles from Washington, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.38 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 2h 11m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (North 2nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (North 4th Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Washington, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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