Origin
Waterloo, IA
Evening in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
5:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Lisbon, IA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 27m
Distance
73.4 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 41m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 31m
3 PM
1h 33m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Lisbon, IA
Bob Jenkin
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Lisbon, IA covers 73.4 miles and takes about 1h 27m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Street, I-380 south, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 27m. Total distance: 73.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 27m drive with frequent turns across 73.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Lisbon, IA is easy. At 1h 27m 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 Lisbon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | — | — |
| I-380 south | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| US 30 East | — | — |
| IA 1 | — | — |
| Highway 1 | — | — |
| Lincoln Highway | — | — |
| West Kirkwood Boulevard | — | — |
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 Lisbon, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
75 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Washington Street
3
Keep slight right to continue on I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls
4
Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints
48 mi
·
54 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
5
Take the exit slight right
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
6
Keep slight left to continue on US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
7
Keep slight left to continue on US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon
8
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
13 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward IA 1: Mount Vernon, Iowa City
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
IA 1: Mount Vernon, Iowa City
10
Turn left onto State Highway 1
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
·
State Highway 1
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Lincoln Highway
7 ft
·
Lincoln Highway
12
Exit the roundabout onto Lincoln Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lincoln Highway
13
Continue on West Kirkwood Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Kirkwood Boulevard
14
Turn left onto South Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Washington Street
15
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.7 mi from Waterloo, IA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.7 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lisbon, IA
The final approach into Lisbon, IA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.48 one way
$22.95 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.60 | $25.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.13 | $28.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.21 | $32.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.52 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.42 | $2.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.28 | $4.70 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Lisbon, IA
Evening in Lisbon on Thursday
Local time
5:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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
1h 27m 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 Lisbon, IA covers 73.4 miles and takes about 1h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Street, I-380 south, Avenue of the Saints. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.7 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 $11.48 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 Lisbon, IA is easy. At 1h 27m 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 Lisbon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Lisbon, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lisbon, IA
More trips to Lisbon, IA
Explore more options from Waterloo, IA or browse trips ending in Lisbon, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.
Explore maps for Waterloo, IA or Lisbon, IA on MapSof.net.