Origin
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
12:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Nashua, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
40.1 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Nashua, IA
Andhika Indra Pratama
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, IA to Nashua, IA covers 40.1 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Street, US 218 North, Avenue of the Saints for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.27 one way before food or hotel costs.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | — | — |
| US 218 North | — | — |
| Avenue of the Saints | — | — |
| Sample Street | — | — |
| Main 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 Nashua, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
75 ft
·
6 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Washington Street
3
Continue straight
6.3 mi
·
7 min
4
Take the exit slight right
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
5
Keep slight right to continue on US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 218 North, IA 27 North: Waverly
6
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
32 mi
·
36 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
7
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
8
Turn right onto Sample Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Sample Street
9
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Main Street
10
Arrive at your destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.1 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.27 one way
$12.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.88 | $13.77 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.72 | $15.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Nashua, IA
Afternoon in Nashua on Saturday
Local time
12:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Waverly, IA
20 mi in
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
2 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
49m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
40.1 mi in 49m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Washington Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 Nashua, IA is easy. At 49m 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 Nashua, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 49m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m 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
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Waterloo, IA to Nashua, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Nashua, IA before heading back.
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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