Origin
Waterloo, IA
Morning in Waterloo on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Alton, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
226.7 mi
365 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 36m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Alton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 226.7-mile journey from Waterloo, IA to Alton, IA offers a manageable one-day road trip, estimated to take about 4 hours and 36 minutes. You'll primarily travel on the Avenue of the Saints, Highway 20, and State Highway 140, with about 16% of the drive on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $35, this Midwest to Midwest route is an economical option. The drive has a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, suggesting a more engaging experience than a straight interstate cruise. You'll find this route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing for flexibility without the need for an overnight stop.
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
113.3 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 13m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' experience on this 226.7-mile route, rather than a monotonous interstate grind. While 16% of your travel will be on highways, much of the drive will involve navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 155.2 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, offering a good opportunity to settle in. This profile suggests a route where you'll be actively engaged with the road, with frequent changes in direction and potentially varied scenery as you traverse the Midwest.
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.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 155.2 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 Washington Street.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 36m 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 (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 63 / Sergeant Road): 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.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 5th Street
Turn right onto West 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 63 / Sergeant Road
Turn left onto US 63 / Sergeant Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
223.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 30m in
|
IA 10 / 460th Street
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10 / 460th Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 155.2 mi | 2h 59m |
| Highway 20 | 19 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 140 | 15.1 mi | 20m |
| County Road L14 | 7 mi | 9m |
| 160th Street | 6.4 mi | 7m |
| Lee Avenue | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Kiwi Avenue | 5 mi | 6m |
| West 4th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 155.2 mi, about 2h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Alton, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
76 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
384 ft
·
10 sec
·
Washington Street
3
Turn right onto West 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
West 5th Street
4
Continue on West 4th Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
West 4th Street
5
Turn slight right onto West Ridgeway Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ridgeway Avenue
6
Turn left onto US 63
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 20; IA 27
155 mi
·
2 hr 59 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Continue on US 20
6.4 mi
·
7 min
·
160th Street
10
Continue on US 20
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
United States Highway 20
11
Continue on US 20
19 mi
·
22 min
·
Highway 20
12
Turn right onto L21
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Lee Avenue
13
Continue on Shamrock Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Shamrock Avenue
14
Turn left onto C66
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
320th Street
15
Turn right onto IA 140
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 140
16
Continue on L14
7.0 mi
·
9 min
·
County Road L14
17
Continue on L14
5.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Kiwi Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto IA 10
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
460th Street
19
Continue on IA 10
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
State Highway 10
20
Turn left onto East Division Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Division Street
21
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
3rd Avenue
22
Turn left onto West 10th Street
156 ft
·
8 sec
·
West 10th Street
23
Turn right
112 ft
·
8 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a 4-hour and 36-minute duration, this 226.7-mile trip is best tackled as a single-day adventure. Aim for an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and allow ample time for any spontaneous stops. The route includes one recommended stop, which is ample for a drive of this length, but you can always pull over if needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the longest stretch of 155.2 miles on the Avenue of the Saints, to ensure smooth travel. The $35 fuel cost estimate is a good baseline for budgeting this efficient, Midwest drive.
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 113.3 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 2h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 155.2 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.3 miles or 2h 13m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alton, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, IA
This is one driving day of about 226.7 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waterloo, 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 Avenue of the Saints for about 155.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.3 mi from Waterloo, IA · 2h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 113.3 miles from Waterloo, 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 155.2 miles.
Arriving in Alton, IA
The final approach into Alton, 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 Alton, 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
$35.44 one way
$70.88 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
79 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.91 | $77.83 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.63 | $87.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.05 | $100.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68 | 0 | $23.80 | $10.88 |
| Efficient EV | 56.7 | 0 | $19.84 | $9.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.7 | 1 | $31.74 | $14.51 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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
Alton, IA
Morning in Alton on Wednesday
Local time
7:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
21 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 36m 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 Waterloo, IA to Alton, IA covers 226.7 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, 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 113.3 miles from Waterloo, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.44 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 36m 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 (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 63 / Sergeant Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Alton, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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