Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 57m
Distance
192.1 mi
309 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 44m
★
6 AM
3h 57m
8 AM
4h 23m
10 AM
4h 6m
12 PM
4h 4m
3 PM
4h 7m
5 PM
4h 22m
8 PM
3h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Atlantic, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 192.1 miles and takes about 3h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Street, West 5th Street, West 4th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.03 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
96.1 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 192.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m 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 3h 57m drive with frequent turns across 192.1 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.
Washington Street 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 Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, IA is easy. At 3h 57m 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 Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | — | — |
| West 5th Street | — | — |
| West 4th Street | — | — |
| West Ridgeway Avenue | — | — |
| Sergeant Road | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| IA 14 | — | — |
| N Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Washington Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Atlantic, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
75 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 Sergeant Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Sergeant Road
7
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
10
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
11
Turn right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
12
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
13
Continue on M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
14
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
15
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
16
Turn right onto 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
17
Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
18
Continue on Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
19
Turn right
36 mi
·
42 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
21
Continue straight
5.6 mi
·
6 min
22
Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha
62 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
I 80 West: Omaha
23
Take the exit slight right toward US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
US 6, US 71: Atlantic, Audubon
24
Turn left onto 650th Street
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
650th Street
25
Turn right onto East 7th Street
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East 7th Street
26
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
266 ft
·
7 sec
·
Chestnut Street
27
Turn right
226 ft
·
17 sec
28
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 96.1 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 58m 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 42 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.1 miles or 1h 58m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Atlantic, 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 192.1 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 96.1 mi from Waterloo, IA · 1h 58m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.1 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Atlantic, IA
The final approach into Atlantic, 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 Atlantic, 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
$30.03 one way
$60.07 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.97 | $65.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.97 | $73.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.41 | $84.83 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.6 | 0 | $20.17 | $9.22 |
| Efficient EV | 48 | 0 | $16.81 | $7.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.8 | 0 | $26.89 | $12.29 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Atlantic, IA
Late night in Atlantic on Saturday
Local time
3:49 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
72°F
Colfax, IA
96 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
19 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
3h 57m 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 Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, IA covers 192.1 miles and takes about 3h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Street, West 5th Street, West 4th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 96.1 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 $30.03 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, IA is easy. At 3h 57m 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 Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Atlantic, 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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