Origin
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, IA to Webster City, IA
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
79.7 mi
128 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waterloo, IA
Tom Fisk
Webster City, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Waterloo to Webster City, you are in for a 79.7-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 36 minutes, making it a perfectly manageable day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to complete the trip. Because you will be navigating local roads like Washington Street, West 5th Street, and West 4th Street, the pace is much slower than typical interstate travel. It is a straightforward connection across Iowa that works well for a quick excursion or a direct transit between these two cities.
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
39.9 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will rely entirely on local streets to reach your destination. You won't find any long, uninterrupted stretches here, as the longest segment of the drive is 0 miles on Washington Street. The personality of this trip is defined by constant navigation through town streets rather than high-speed cruising. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience where the focus is on local road maneuvers rather than open-road endurance.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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 Webster City, IA is easy. At 1h 36m 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 Webster City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 5th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West 4th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Ridgeway Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sergeant Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Avenue of the Saints | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| IA 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Superior Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Washington Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and Webster City, IA.
1
Start on West 4th Street
75 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 Sergeant Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Sergeant Road
7
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints
74 mi
·
1 hr 24 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit slight right toward IA 17 South
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
IA 17 South
10
Turn right onto Superior Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Superior Street
11
Turn left onto 2nd Street
59 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Street
12
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With no designated stops included in the 1 hour and 36-minute duration, you can easily pull over whenever you need a break without worrying about falling behind a tight itinerary. Given the stop-and-go nature of local roads, keep a close watch on your fuel levels before heading out to ensure you stay within your $12 budget. My best tip for this specific route is to stay alert for frequent turns, as the reliance on local streets like West 4th and West 5th requires you to pay closer attention to signage than you would on a standard highway route.
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 39.9 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 48m 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 79.7 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.9 miles or 48m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Webster City, 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 79.7 miles and 1h 36m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.9 mi from Waterloo, IA · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 79.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 39.9 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Webster City, IA
The final approach into Webster City, 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 Webster City, IA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.11 one way
$24.21 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
28 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $13.35 | $26.69 |
| premium | $4.80 | $15.05 | $30.09 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.71 | $35.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
| Efficient EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.97 | $3.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.9 | 0 | $11.16 | $5.10 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Destination
Webster City, IA
Afternoon in Webster City on Sunday
Local time
3:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
5 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
1h 36m 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 Webster City, IA covers 79.7 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Street, West 5th Street, West 4th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.9 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 $12.11 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 Webster City, IA is easy. At 1h 36m 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 Webster City, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Waterloo, IA to Webster City, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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