Origin
Waterloo, IA
Morning in Waterloo on Wednesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Marcus, IA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
4h 7m
Distance
201.4 mi
324 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 54m
★
6 AM
4h 7m
8 AM
4h 33m
10 AM
4h 16m
12 PM
4h 14m
3 PM
4h 18m
5 PM
4h 32m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Marcus, IA
Volker Thimm
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Marcus, IA covers 201.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Avenue of the Saints, 20th Avenue, State Highway 3 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 154.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.49 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
100.7 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 59m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 7m drive with frequent turns across 201.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 154.1 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.1 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 63 / Sergeant Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Washington Street
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West 5th Street
Turn right onto West 5th Street
Navigation decision point
4
3.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
US 63 / Sergeant Road
Turn left onto US 63 / Sergeant Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
4
158.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m in
|
CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Turn right onto CR M27 / Armstrong Avenue
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 154.1 mi | 2h 57m |
| 20th Avenue | 9.2 mi | 12m |
| State Highway 3 | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| Armstrong Avenue | 6 mi | 8m |
| 490th Street | 5 mi | 7m |
| 530th Street | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| 500th Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West 4th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 154.1 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Marcus, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
76 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 US 63
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto US 20; IA 27
154 mi
·
2 hr 57 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Turn right onto CR M27
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Armstrong Avenue
10
Continue on CR M27
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
20th Avenue
11
Turn left onto IA 7
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Highway 7
12
Continue on IA 7
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 7
13
Continue on IA 7
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
1st Street
14
Continue on IA 7
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
V Avenue
15
Turn left onto IA 3
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
State Highway 3
16
Turn straight onto IA 3
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
530th Street
17
Turn right onto IA 3
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 3
18
Continue on IA 3
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
500th Street
19
Continue on IA 3
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 3
20
Continue on IA 3
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
490th Street
21
Turn right onto IA 143
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Ames Avenue
22
Turn left onto East Cedar Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cedar Street
23
Turn right onto North Main Street
67 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Main Street
24
Arrive at destination
North 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 100.7 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 154.1 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.7 miles or 1h 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 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Marcus, 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 201.4 miles and 4h 7m.
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 Avenue of the Saints for about 154.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 100.7 mi from Waterloo, IA · 1h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 100.7 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 154.1 miles.
Arriving in Marcus, IA
The final approach into Marcus, 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 Marcus, 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
$31.49 one way
$62.97 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
71 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.57 | $69.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.76 | $77.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.47 | $88.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.4 | 0 | $21.15 | $9.67 |
| Efficient EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.62 | $8.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.6 | 1 | $28.20 | $12.89 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
24 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
Marcus, IA
Morning in Marcus on Wednesday
Local time
7:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
75°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
7 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
4h 7m 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 Marcus, IA covers 201.4 miles and takes about 4h 7m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, 20th Avenue, State Highway 3. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.7 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 $31.49 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 7m drive. You will face about 10 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 0.1 miles (West 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.3 miles (US 63 / Sergeant Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Marcus, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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