Origin
Waterloo, IA
Evening in Waterloo on Thursday
Local time
8:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Manly, IA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 57m
Distance
92.3 mi
149 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 49m
★
6 AM
1h 57m
8 AM
2h 14m
10 AM
2h 3m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 4m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Manly, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Waterloo to Manly, this 92.3-mile journey across the Iowa Midwest takes approximately 1 hour and 57 minutes to complete. You will navigate a series of local roads, starting on Washington Street before transitioning onto US 218 North and the Avenue of the Saints. Because the trip is under two hours, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. Budgeting around $14 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit between these two points. It is a straightforward trip that avoids the complexity of long-distance planning, allowing you to focus on the road ahead.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 57m. Total distance: 92.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that prioritizes navigation over high-speed interstate cruising. Since this route features zero highway miles, you will spend the entire 1 hour and 57 minutes on surface roads, requiring your full attention at intersections and turns. The personality of this drive is distinctly local, reflecting the rural character of the Iowa landscape. You won't find any long, monotonous highway stretches here; instead, the route demands a more engaged, hands-on driving style. Be prepared for a steady pace as you transition through the various segments of the trip.
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.
Avenue of the Saints is the longest continuous segment at about 68.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (US 218): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
6.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 218
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218 toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
4
76 mi into trip
|
~1h 29m in
Take the exit toward CR S56: California Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward CR S56: California Avenue
4
76.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
CR S56 / Thrush Avenue
Turn right onto CR S56 / Thrush Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
92.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 68.6 mi | 1h 19m |
| Thrush Avenue | 10.8 mi | 18m |
| US 218 | 7 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 9 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Broad Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East South Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Broadway Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 68.6 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Manly, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
76 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Washington Street
3
Continue on US 218
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
US 218
4
Take the exit onto US 218
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 218
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 218
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 218
Toward US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
6
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
69 mi
·
1 hr 19 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CR S56: California Avenue
8
Turn right onto CR S56
8.8 mi
·
14 min
·
Thrush Avenue
9
Continue on CR S56
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broad Street
10
Continue on CR S56
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Thrush Avenue
11
At end of road, turn left onto IA 9
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 9
12
Continue on IA 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East South Street
13
Turn right onto South Broadway Street
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
South Broadway Street
14
Turn left
264 ft
·
19 sec
15
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. With no scheduled stops included in the 92.3-mile itinerary, you can easily complete the journey in one go, though you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge to stay within your $14 estimate. Given the turn-heavy nature of these local roads, verify your navigation before leaving Waterloo to avoid missing key turns on Washington Street or the Avenue of the Saints. Take advantage of the route's simplicity by keeping a steady pace and staying alert at intersections. Planning for a direct trip is your best bet, as the lack of highway segments makes this a straightforward, manageable drive.
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 46.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.6 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 20 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manly, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterloo, IA
This is one driving day of about 92.3 miles and 1h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Waterloo, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 68.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.2 mi from Waterloo, IA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 46.2 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 68.6 miles.
Arriving in Manly, IA
The final approach into Manly, 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
$14.43 one way
$28.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.84 | $31.69 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.76 | $35.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.38 | $40.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.7 | 0 | $9.69 | $4.43 |
| Efficient EV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.08 | $3.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.9 | 0 | $12.92 | $5.91 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Manly, IA
Evening in Manly on Thursday
Local time
8:15 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
22 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 57m 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 Manly, IA covers 92.3 miles and takes about 1h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, Thrush Avenue, US 218. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.2 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 $14.43 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 57m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles (US 218): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 76 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Manly, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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