Origin
Waterloo, IA
Morning in Waterloo on Monday
Local time
10:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Decorah, IA
Drive Time
1h 49m
Distance
78.4 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Tom Fisk
Decorah, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Decorah, IA covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Commercial Street, West 1st Street, East Mullan Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.91 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
39.2 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 78.4 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.
Commercial 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Decorah, IA is easy. At 1h 49m 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 Decorah, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 1st Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Mullan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Logan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Larrabee Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 270th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Union Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Commercial Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Decorah, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn left onto Commercial Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Commercial Street
3
Turn right onto West 1st Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West 1st Street
4
Continue on East Mullan Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Mullan Avenue
5
Continue on Logan Avenue
8.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Logan Avenue
6
Continue on Larrabee Avenue
23 mi
·
26 min
·
Larrabee Avenue
7
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
8
At the end of the road, turn left onto 270th Street
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
270th Street
9
Continue on West Main Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
10
Continue on 270th Street
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
270th Street
11
Turn left onto Union Avenue
7.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Union Avenue
12
Continue on County Highway V56
436 ft
·
11 sec
·
County Highway V56
13
Turn right onto State Highway 24
13 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 24
14
Continue on 1st Street Southeast
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
1st Street Southeast
15
Continue on State Highway 24
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 24
16
Continue on Highway 24
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Highway 24
17
Continue on State Highway 24
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
State Highway 24
18
Continue on Charles Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Charles Street
19
Turn right onto South Street
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
South Street
20
Turn left onto Maryville Street
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Maryville Street
21
Continue straight
7.8 mi
·
10 min
22
Turn right onto State Highway 9
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
State Highway 9
23
Turn left onto Short Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Short Street
24
Continue on South Mechanic Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Mechanic Street
25
Turn right onto West Broadway Street
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
West Broadway Street
26
Turn left onto Washington Street
341 ft
·
17 sec
·
Washington Street
27
Turn right onto East Main Street
59 ft
·
3 sec
·
East Main Street
28
Arrive at your destination
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 39.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 54m 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 78.4 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.2 miles or 54m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Decorah, 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 78.4 miles and 1h 49m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.2 mi from Waterloo, IA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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 78.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Decorah, IA
The final approach into Decorah, 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 Decorah, 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
$11.91 one way
$23.82 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
27 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.13 | $26.25 |
| premium | $4.80 | $14.80 | $29.60 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.42 | $34.84 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.23 | $3.76 |
| Efficient EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.98 | $5.02 |
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Decorah, IA
Morning in Decorah on Monday
Local time
10:35 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
43°F
Marion, IA
39 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
4 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
1h 49m 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 Decorah, IA covers 78.4 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Commercial Street, West 1st Street, East Mullan Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.2 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 $11.91 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.
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Decorah, IA is easy. At 1h 49m 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 Decorah, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Decorah, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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