Trip from Waterloo, IA to Solon, IA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 30m

Distance

71.6 mi

115 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min

4 AM

1h 24m ★

6 AM

1h 31m

8 AM

1h 45m

10 AM

1h 36m

12 PM

1h 34m

3 PM

1h 36m

5 PM

1h 44m

8 PM

1h 27m

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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city in Black Hawk County, Iowa, United States

Waterloo, IA

Wikimedia Commons

Solon, IA

Demian Grygorchuk

Trip Overview

Traveling from Waterloo to Solon covers 71.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes of driving time. This straightforward trek through the Iowa Midwest is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the journey, making this an economical choice for a quick getaway. You will navigate via Washington Street, I-380 south, and the Avenue of the Saints. Because the trip is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to head out whenever it best suits your plans.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

35.8 miles from Waterloo, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While you will utilize portions of I-380 south and the Avenue of the Saints, the route maintains a personal feel as you transition through the local road network. The drive is characterized by frequent adjustments rather than long, uninterrupted highway stretches. You will find yourself navigating local transitions that require more focus than a typical high-speed freeway trek. Being prepared for a more active driving experience will make the 1.5-hour duration feel much more engaging as you transition between these key regional thoroughfares.

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

There are about 17 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Solon, IA is easy. At 1h 30m 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 Solon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Washington Street	—	—
I-380 south	—	—
Avenue of the Saints	—	—
US 30 East	—	—
CR W6E	—	—
C Street Southwest	—	—
Ely Road	—	—
State 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 Solon, IA.

Start on West 4th Street

75 ft · 6 sec · West 4th Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

2.7 mi · 4 min · Washington Street

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

Keep slight right to continue on Avenue of the Saints

48 mi · 54 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit slight right

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Keep slight left to continue on US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon

0.6 mi · 1 min · US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon

Keep slight left to continue on US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon

0.2 mi · 32 sec · US 30 East, US 151 North: Mount Vernon

Merge slight left

0.7 mi · 46 sec

Take the exit slight right toward CR W6E: Ely

0.4 mi · 58 sec · CR W6E: Ely

Turn right onto C Street Southwest

0.1 mi · 20 sec · C Street Southwest

Turn left onto Ely Road

3.5 mi · 6 min · Ely Road

Continue on State Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Street

Continue on Ely Road

4.1 mi · 7 min · Ely Road

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Highway 382 Northeast

157 ft · 3 sec · Highway 382 Northeast

Exit the roundabout onto Highway 382 Northeast

2.2 mi · 3 min · Highway 382 Northeast

Continue on West Main Street

0.4 mi · 40 sec · West Main Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a quick 71.6-mile trip, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your leisure without the pressure of a rigid timeline. We recommend keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before you leave Waterloo, as the $11 estimated cost is based on a direct run without excessive idling. Because the route is heavy on turns and local connections, it is wise to keep your GPS active to navigate the transition points between the Avenue of the Saints and I-380 south smoothly. Given the short duration, you likely won't need scheduled stops, but having a beverage or snack ready before you pull away will keep you comfortable for the entire 90-minute duration.

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 35.8 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 45m 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 35.8 miles or 45m 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 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Solon, 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 71.6 miles and 1h 30m.

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 35.8 mi from Waterloo, IA · 45m into the drive

city in Linn County, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hiawatha, IA

36 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

Elk Run Heights, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hiawatha, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35.8 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Solon, IA

The final approach into Solon, 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

$11.19 one way

$22.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$12.29	$24.58
premium	$4.89	$13.78	$27.56
diesel	$5.61	$15.81	$31.62

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: 25.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	21.5	$7.52	$3.44
Efficient EV	17.9	$6.26	$2.86
EV Truck/SUV	28.6	$10.02	$4.58

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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 15, 2026

Origin

Waterloo, IA

Night in Waterloo on Wednesday

Local time

10:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Solon, IA

Night in Solon on Wednesday

Local time

10:39 PM

CDT

Current temp

50°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

18 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 30m 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 Solon, IA covers 71.6 miles and takes about 1h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

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

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 35.8 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 $11.19 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 Solon, IA is easy. At 1h 30m 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 Solon, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Waterloo, IA to Solon, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.