Origin
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Monticello, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
74.5 mi
120 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 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 50m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 39m
3 PM
1h 41m
5 PM
1h 49m
8 PM
1h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Monticello, IA
Serena Koi
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Monticello, IA covers 74.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m 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, Highway 38 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.06 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
37.3 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 35m. Total distance: 74.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m 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 1h 35m drive with frequent turns across 74.5 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 Monticello, IA is easy. At 1h 35m 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 Monticello, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | — | — |
| I-380 south | — | — |
| Highway 38 | — | — |
| 3rd Street | — | — |
| Market Street | — | — |
| North Cedar Street | — | — |
| East 1st Street | — | — |
| North Maple Street | — | — |
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 Monticello, 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 left
44 mi
·
50 min
5
Take the exit slight right
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
6
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 38
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 38
7
Continue on 3rd Street
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
3rd Street
8
Turn left onto Market Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Market Street
9
Continue on State Highway 38
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 38
10
Continue on 3rd Street
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
3rd Street
11
Continue on State Highway 38
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 38
12
Continue on North Cedar Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cedar Street
13
At the end of the road, turn left onto East 1st Street
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
East 1st Street
14
Turn left onto North Maple Street
72 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Maple Street
15
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 37.3 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 47m 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.3 miles or 47m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Monticello, 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 74.5 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 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 37.3 mi from Waterloo, IA · 47m 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 37.3 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Monticello, IA
The final approach into Monticello, 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
$11.06 one way
$22.12 round trip
$3.77/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $12.47 | $24.95 |
| premium | $4.65 | $13.65 | $27.30 |
| diesel | $5.30 | $15.56 | $31.11 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.82 | $3.58 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.52 | $2.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.43 | $4.77 |
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
Monticello, IA
Late night in Monticello on Saturday
Local time
5:05 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Manchester, IA
37 mi in
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
21 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 35m 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 Monticello, IA covers 74.5 miles and takes about 1h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Street, I-380 south, Highway 38. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 37.3 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 $11.06 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 Monticello, IA is easy. At 1h 35m 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 Monticello, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Monticello, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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