Trip from Waterloo, IA to Hamburg, IA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

5h 35m

Distance

287.2 mi

462 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 22m ★

6 AM

5h 36m

8 AM

6h 2m

10 AM

5h 45m

12 PM

5h 42m

3 PM

5h 46m

5 PM

6h 1m

8 PM

5h 28m

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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city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Waterloo, IA

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city in Fremont County, Iowa, United States

Hamburg, IA

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Trip Overview

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Hamburg, IA covers 287.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 80, I 29, IA 330 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 124.6 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $44.90 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

143.6 miles from Waterloo, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 5h 35m highway drive covering 287.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 80 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 124.6 miles on I 80.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 124.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 287.2 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 100.8 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 119.4 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4.1 mi into trip | ~7m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

119.4 mi into trip | ~2h 33m in | I 80

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Omaha

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 80 West: Omaha

214.9 mi into trip | ~4h 16m in | I 80

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebrask...

238.4 mi into trip | ~4h 41m in

Take the exit toward I 29 South: Kansas City

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 4A Toward I 29 South: Kansas City

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 Hamburg, IA, road signs point toward Grundy Center and Omaha Nebraska.

Grundy Center

22.8 mi in | ~29m

Omaha Nebraska

214.9 mi in | ~4h 16m | via I 80

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 80	124.6 mi	2h 14m
I 29	46.1 mi	49m
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	6.3 mi	9m
Marsh Avenue	5.9 mi	8m

Longest stretch: I 80 — 124.6 mi, about 2h 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Hamburg, IA.

Start on West 4th Street

76 ft · 6 sec · West 4th Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

384 ft · 10 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto West 5th Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · West 5th Street

Continue on West 4th Street

2.4 mi · 4 min · West 4th Street

Turn slight right onto West Ridgeway Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Ridgeway Avenue

Turn left onto US 63

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sergeant Road

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Use the left lane.

Merge onto US 20; IA 27

18 mi · 21 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 59 sec

Toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

Turn left onto IA 14

4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

Turn right onto 210th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 210th Street

Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

Continue on M Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175

6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

Turn left onto IA 14

16 mi · 21 min · Sanford Avenue

Turn right onto IA 330

4.3 mi · 5 min · 160th Street

Keep slight left at fork onto IA 330

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Continue on IA 330

5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

Turn right onto IA 330

36 mi · 42 min · IA 330

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.

Continue on I 80; I 35

5.6 mi · 6 min · I 80; I 35

Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

96 mi · 1 hr 42 min · I 80

Toward I 80 West: Omaha Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

23 mi · 25 min · I 80

Toward I 80 West: Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 1 min

Exit 4A Toward I 29 South: Kansas City Use the slight right lane.

Merge onto I 29

46 mi · 49 min · I 29

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Toward IA 333: Hamburg

Turn left onto IA 333; CR J64

0.1 mi · 9 sec · 310 Street

Continue on IA 333; CR J64

0.7 mi · 1 min · State Highway 333

Continue on IA 333

0.2 mi · 35 sec · North Street

Turn left onto Main Street

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Main Street

Arrive at destination

Main 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 143.6 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 2h 59m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124.6 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 143.6 miles or 2h 59m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamburg, 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 287.2 miles and 5h 35m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 124.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 143.6 mi from Waterloo, IA · 2h 59m into the drive

human settlement in Dallas County, Iowa, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukee, IA

144 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

Ankeny, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukee, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 143.6 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 80 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 124.6 miles.

Arriving in Hamburg, IA

The final approach into Hamburg, 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 Hamburg, IA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.90 one way

$89.80 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 101 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$49.30	$98.60
premium	$4.89	$55.27	$110.54
diesel	$5.61	$63.41	$126.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	86.2	1	$30.16	$13.79
Efficient EV	71.8	0	$25.13	$11.49
EV Truck/SUV	114.9	1	$40.21	$18.38

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Waterloo, IA

Night in Waterloo on Tuesday

Local time

11:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hamburg, IA

Night in Hamburg on Tuesday

Local time

11:38 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°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

6 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

5h 35m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Hamburg, IA covers 287.2 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 80, I 29, IA 330. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 143.6 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 $44.90 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.