Origin
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
1:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Dallas Center, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
128.3 mi
207 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 39m
★
6 AM
2h 50m
8 AM
3h 12m
10 AM
2h 58m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
2h 59m
5 PM
3h 11m
8 PM
2h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Dallas Center, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Dallas Center, IA covers 128.3 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on IA 330, Avenue of the Saints, Sanford Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 35.9 miles on IA 330. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.06 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
64.2 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| IA 330 | 35.9 mi | 42m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 18.4 mi | 21m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| US 65 | 13 mi | 15m |
| 240th Street | 11.6 mi | 16m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| N Avenue | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| 160th Street | 4.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
IA 330
— 35.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Dallas Center, 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
36 mi
·
42 min
·
IA 330
20
Take the exit onto US 65
13 mi
·
15 min
·
US 65
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 80; I 35
1.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80; I 35
22
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 127
Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn right onto IA 141
195 ft
·
3 sec
·
Northwest Urbandale Drive
24
Continue on IA 141
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast Grimes Boulevard
25
Turn left onto Southeast 19th Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Southeast 19th Street
26
Turn right onto South James Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
South James Street
27
Turn left onto IA 44
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
West 1st Street
28
Continue on IA 44
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
240th Street
29
Continue on IA 44
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sugar Grove Avenue
30
Turn left onto CR R16
0.3 mi
·
55 sec
·
14th Street
31
Turn left onto Walnut Street
32 ft
·
1 sec
·
Walnut Street
32
Arrive at destination
Walnut 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.9 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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.2 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dallas Center, 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 128.3 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 IA 330 for about 35.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 115.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington 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
7
100.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
|
US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines
8
115.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
Take the exit toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 127
Toward IA 141 West: Urbandale, Grimes
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.06 one way
$40.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $22.02 | $44.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.69 | $49.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.33 | $56.65 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.47 | $6.16 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.23 | $5.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.96 | $8.21 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Dallas Center, IA
Afternoon in Dallas Center on Saturday
Local time
1:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
51°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
17 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 50m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
128.3 mi in 2h 50m — 39% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: IA 330.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.9 mi on IA 330.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 21 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
6/10
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 128.3 miles you will encounter 21 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 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waterloo, IA and Dallas Center, IA, road signs point toward Grundy Center and Grimes.
Grundy Center
22.8 mi in
|
~29m
Grimes
115.4 mi in
|
~2h 28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 128.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.9 miles on IA 330. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dallas Center, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 22.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dallas Center, IA before heading back.
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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