Trip from Waterloo, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 29m

Distance

127.7 mi

205 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min

4 AM

2h 19m ★

6 AM

2h 29m

8 AM

2h 49m

10 AM

2h 36m

12 PM

2h 34m

3 PM

2h 37m

5 PM

2h 48m

8 PM

2h 23m

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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Trip Overview

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA covers 127.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m 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, I 380, Washington Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 115 miles on Avenue of the Saints. At current regular gas prices, budget about $19.96 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

63.8 miles from Waterloo, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 29m. Total distance: 127.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (5%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 29m drive with frequent turns across 127.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 10 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 115 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 2h 29m drive. You will face about 6 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 2.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

These 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

2.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 380

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls

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

Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids,...

6

9.3 mi into trip | ~12m in | I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

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

Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

4

127.5 mi into trip | ~2h 28m in | West Warren Street

Turn right onto West Warren Street

Navigation decision point

5

127.6 mi into trip | ~2h 29m in | South White Street

Turn left onto South White Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Avenue of the Saints	115 mi	2h 9m
I 380	6.5 mi	7m
Washington Street	2.7 mi	4m
Iowa Avenue	1.5 mi	2m
North Broadway Street	1.3 mi	3m
North Jefferson Street	0.4 mi	1m
West Warren Street	0.1 mi	<1m
West 4th Street	<0.1 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: Avenue of the Saints — 115 mi, about 2h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on West 4th Street

76 ft · 6 sec · West 4th Street

2

Turn right onto Washington Street

2.7 mi · 4 min · Washington Street

3

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

6.5 mi · 7 min · I 380

Toward I-380 south, US 20, IA 27: Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Cedar Falls

4

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380; IA 27

115 mi · 2 hr 9 min · Avenue of the Saints

Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids

5

Turn right onto Iowa Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · Iowa Avenue

6

Continue on North Broadway Street

1.3 mi · 3 min · North Broadway Street

7

Continue on North Jefferson Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Jefferson Street

8

Turn right onto West Warren Street

0.1 mi · 38 sec · West Warren Street

9

Turn left onto South White Street

58 ft · 2 sec · South White Street

10

Arrive at destination

South White Street

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 63.8 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 115 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 28 miles or 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 63.8 miles or 1h 13m 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 59m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Pleasant, 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 127.7 miles and 2h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 115 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 63.8 mi from Waterloo, IA · 1h 13m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cedar Rapids, IA

64 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.

Popular next leg

Cedar Rapids, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA

77 mi · 1h 33m

Pacing Suggestions

Vinton, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cedar Rapids, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 63.8 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 Avenue of the Saints if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 115 miles.

Arriving in Mount Pleasant, IA

The final approach into Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour Expensive mile 54.7

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Mt Pleasant, Iowa

0.3 mi

Mikhael's

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

0.9 mi

Cobble Hill

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour Expensive mile 54.7

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+13193663177

Visit website

Pad Thai Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 127.7

Mt Pleasant, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–1:30 pm

+13193858520

Visit website

Mikhael's

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.7

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–2 pm

+13193663644

Visit website

Czech Town Station

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.7

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 7 am–9 pm

+13192005776

Visit website

Tommy's West Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 54.7

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+13193963045

Visit website

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 72.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13195453131

Visit website

Culver’s

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 72.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–10 pm

+13195458255

Visit website

Steak 'n Shake

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20 mile 72.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: 10 am–12 pm

+13198006117

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 54.7

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 82.1

Iowa City, Iowa

+18668167584

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 36.5

Center Point, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, ~9 min detour

3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour mile 72.9

Coralville, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Shell Recharge Charging Station

2.2 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour

Waterloo, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+31880109500

Visit website

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

1.1 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 54.7

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.4 ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 72.9

North Liberty, Iowa

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.96 one way

$39.93 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$21.92	$43.84
premium	$4.89	$24.57	$49.15
diesel	$5.61	$28.19	$56.39

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 44.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	38.3	$13.41	$6.13
Efficient EV	31.9	$11.17	$5.11
EV Truck/SUV	51.1	$17.88	$8.17

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026

Origin

Waterloo, IA

Late night in Waterloo on Saturday

Local time

4:21 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Mostly Clear

SSE 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Destination

Mount Pleasant, IA

Late night in Mount Pleasant on Saturday

Local time

4:21 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Mostly Clear

S 5 to 10 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT until April 24 at 1:00AM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 9:20PM CDT by NWS Quad Cities IA IL

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

1 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

2h 29m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Mount Pleasant, IA covers 127.7 miles and takes about 2h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, I 380, Washington Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 63.8 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 $19.96 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 2h 29m drive. You will face about 6 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 2.7 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.3 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

The route from Waterloo, IA to Mount Pleasant, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Trip from Waterloo, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Who Is This Route For?

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Mount Pleasant, IA

Nearby Places

Cobble Hill

Cobble Hill

Pad Thai Restaurant

Mikhael's

Czech Town Station

Tommy's West Restaurant

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

Culver’s

Steak 'n Shake

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

EV Connect Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Shell Recharge Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Waterloo, IA

Mount Pleasant, IA

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 29m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the trip from Waterloo, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA?

What are the main roads on this route?

Is this a good same-day trip?

Where should I stop halfway?

How much does gas cost for this trip?

What is the best time to leave?

How hard is the drive from Waterloo, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA?

Where does this route get tricky?

What towns show up on signs driving from Waterloo, IA to Mount Pleasant, IA?

How this page is built

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