Trip from Waterloo, IA to Eagle Grove, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 2m

Distance

98.3 mi

158 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 54m ★

6 AM

2h 2m

8 AM

2h 20m

10 AM

2h 8m

12 PM

2h 7m

3 PM

2h 9m

5 PM

2h 19m

8 PM

1h 57m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Eagle Grove, IA covers 98.3 miles and takes about 2h 2m 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 $15.37 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

49.2 miles from Waterloo, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 98.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 2m 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 2h 2m drive with frequent turns across 98.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Eagle Grove, IA is easy. At 2h 2m 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 Eagle Grove, 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 17 North	—	—
Stagecoach Road	—	—

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 Eagle Grove, 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

78 mi · 1 hr 30 min · Avenue of the Saints

9

Take the exit slight right toward IA 17 North

0.4 mi · 53 sec · IA 17 North

10

Turn right onto Stagecoach Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Stagecoach Road

11

At the end of the road, turn left onto 220th Street

0.4 mi · 39 sec · 220th Street

12

Turn right onto Stagecoach Road

5.9 mi · 8 min · Stagecoach Road

13

Continue on State Highway 17

6.7 mi · 9 min · State Highway 17

14

Continue on South Commercial Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Commercial Avenue

15

Turn right onto West Broadway Street

30 ft · 1 sec · West Broadway Street

16

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 49.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 1m 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 22 miles or 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 49.2 miles or 1h 1m 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 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eagle Grove, 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 98.3 miles and 2h 2m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Waterloo, IA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 49.2 mi from Waterloo, IA · 1h 1m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ackley, IA

49 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

Hudson, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ackley, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 49.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Eagle Grove, IA

The final approach into Eagle Grove, 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 Eagle Grove, 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

$15.37 one way

$30.74 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 34 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$16.87	$33.75
premium	$4.89	$18.92	$37.83
diesel	$5.61	$21.70	$43.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	29.5	$10.32	$4.72
Efficient EV	24.6	$8.60	$3.93
EV Truck/SUV	39.3	$13.76	$6.29

Gas CO2

34 kg

EV CO2

12 kg (65% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Waterloo, IA

Morning in Waterloo on Thursday

Local time

9:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Eagle Grove, IA

Morning in Eagle Grove on Thursday

Local time

9:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

71°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

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

2h 2m 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 Eagle Grove, IA covers 98.3 miles and takes about 2h 2m 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 49.2 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 $15.37 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 Eagle Grove, IA is easy. At 2h 2m 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 Eagle Grove, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Waterloo, IA to Eagle Grove, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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