Origin
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
3:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Baxter, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
84.5 mi
136 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Baxter, IA
Tara Winstead
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Baxter, IA covers 84.5 miles and takes about 1h 59m 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, Sanford Avenue, IA 330 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.21 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
42.2 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 84.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 59m drive with frequent turns across 84.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 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 18.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.5 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 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
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
22.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
5
28.7 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
County Road T37
Turn sharp left onto County Road T37
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Waterloo, IA to Baxter, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Grundy Center along the way.
Grundy Center
22.8 mi in
|
~29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| IA 330 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Hart Avenue | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| N Avenue | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| 160th Street | 4.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 18.4 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Baxter, 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
18 mi
·
21 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center
10
Turn left onto IA 14
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 IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
15
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
16
Turn right onto IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
17
Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
18
Continue on IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
19
Turn right onto IA 330
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
IA 330
20
Turn left onto S62
6.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Hart Avenue
21
Continue on County S62 North
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
County S62 North
22
Turn right onto CR F17
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway F 17 West
23
Continue on CR F17
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway F17 West
24
Continue on CR F62
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Buchannan Street
25
Turn right onto South Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
26
Arrive at destination
South Main 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 42.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.4 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.2 miles or 57m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baxter, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterloo, IA
This is one driving day of about 84.5 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Waterloo, 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 18.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.2 mi from Waterloo, IA · 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 42.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Baxter, IA
The final approach into Baxter, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.21 one way
$26.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.50 | $29.01 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.26 | $32.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.66 | $37.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.3 | 0 | $8.87 | $4.06 |
| Efficient EV | 21.1 | 0 | $7.39 | $3.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.8 | 0 | $11.83 | $5.41 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Baxter, IA
Afternoon in Baxter on Thursday
Local time
3:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Conrad, IA
42 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
18 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
1h 59m 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 Baxter, IA covers 84.5 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Sanford Avenue, IA 330. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.2 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 $13.21 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.5 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Waterloo, IA to Baxter, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Grundy Center along the way.
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