The drive from Waterloo, IA to Corydon, IA covers 159 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 14, J Avenue, I 80 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.2 miles on State Highway 14.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.86 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
79.5 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 159 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Corydon, IA covers 159 miles and takes about 3h 51m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 14 is the longest continuous segment at about 63.2 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,094 ft853 ft
Total Climb
492 ft
Total Descent
251 ft
Highest Point
1,094 ft
~159 mi in
Elevation Range
242 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 19 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 89.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These 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
5
89.2 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
5
158.9 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|IA 2 / East Jefferson Street
Turn right onto IA 2 / East Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
5
159 mi into trip|~3h 51m in|South Franklin Street
Turn left onto South Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
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 Corydon, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Monroe
89.2 mi in|~2h 6m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 14
63.2 mi
1h 33m
J Avenue
18 mi
26m
I 80
17.7 mi
18m
100th Street
8 mi
12m
North Main Street
7.6 mi
11m
Sergeant Road
6.5 mi
9m
South Hudson Road
6.4 mi
8m
380th Avenue
5.5 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 14
— 63.2 mi, about 1h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Corydon, 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
6.5 mi·9 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
7
Continue on US 63
6.4 mi·8 min·South Hudson Road
8
Continue on US 63
2.5 mi·3 min·Q Avenue
9
Continue on US 63
4.4 mi·5 min·County Road D65
10
Continue on US 63
7.6 mi·11 min·North Main Street
11
Turn left onto US 63
12 mi·17 min·J Avenue
12
Continue on US 63
1.8 mi·2 min·North County Road
13
Continue on US 63
0.4 mi·43 sec·Harding Street
14
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi·24 sec·West 13th Street
15
Turn right onto US 63
1.5 mi·2 min·State Street
16
Continue on US 63
6.3 mi·9 min·J Avenue
17
Continue on US 63
8.0 mi·12 min·100th Street
18
Turn right onto US 6
5.5 mi·7 min·380th Avenue
19
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·58 sec·6th Avenue
20
Turn left onto Penrose Street
0.2 mi·38 sec·Penrose Street
21
Turn right onto 4th Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·4th Avenue
22
Turn left onto IA 146
3.2 mi·5 min·West Street
23
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
24
Merge onto I 80
18 mi·18 min·I 80
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward US 6, IA 14: Newton, Monroe
26
Turn left onto State Highway 14
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 14
27
Continue on IA 14
1.0 mi·1 min·Monroe Street
28
Continue on IA 14
13 mi·18 min·State Highway 14
29
Continue on IA 14
2.3 mi·3 min·North Lincoln Street
30
Continue on IA 14
23 mi·34 min·State Highway 14
31
Continue on IA 14
1.5 mi·2 min·North 7th Street
32
Turn right onto IA 14; US 34 Business
0.2 mi·16 sec·Woodlawn Avenue
33
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
492 ft·8 sec·State Highway 14
34
Continue on IA 14; US 34 Business
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Main Street
35
Continue on IA 14
16 mi·24 min·State Highway 14
36
Continue on IA 14
0.7 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
37
At end of road, turn left onto IA 14
242 ft·6 sec·East Jackson Street
38
Turn right onto IA 14
460 ft·10 sec·North Lafayette Street
39
Turn right onto IA 2
460 ft·13 sec·East Jefferson Street
40
Turn left onto South Franklin Street
86 ft·3 sec·South Franklin Street
41
Arrive at destination
South Franklin Street
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 79.5 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.2 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 35 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.5 miles or 1h 56m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Corydon, 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 159 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 State Highway 14 for about 63.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.5 mi from Waterloo, IA
· 1h 56m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.86 one way
$49.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$27.29
$54.59
premium
$4.89
$30.60
$61.20
diesel
$5.61
$35.11
$70.21
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: 55.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.69
$7.63
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.91
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.26
$10.18
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IA
Morning
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SSW 18 to 22 mph53% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Corydon, IA
Morning
in Corydon on Saturday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SSW 22 to 26 mph83% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
80 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 51m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Corydon, IA covers 159 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 14, J Avenue, I 80. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.5 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 $24.86 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.
This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 19 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 89.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Waterloo, IA to Corydon, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroe along the way.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 853 ft to 1,094 ft elevation with about 492 ft of total climbing.
