The drive from Waterloo, IA to West Burlington, IA covers 153.7 miles and takes about 2h 58m 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, US 34, I 380 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 119.4 miles on Avenue of the Saints.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.03 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
76.8 miles from Waterloo, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 153.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (19%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 58m drive with frequent turns across 153.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 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 119.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in near I 380.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 128.6 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
6
128.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|US 34; IA 163
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Bu...
7
128.9 mi into trip|~2h 27m in|US 34; IA 163
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163 toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
5
153.7 mi into trip|~2h 58m in|East Wheeler Street
Turn left onto East Wheeler Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waterloo, IA and West Burlington, IA, road signs point toward 163 East: Mount Pleasant and Burlington.
163 East: Mount Pleasant
128.6 mi in|~2h 26m|via US 34; IA 163
Burlington
128.6 mi in|~2h 26m|via US 34; IA 163
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
119.4 mi
2h 14m
US 34
22.8 mi
27m
I 380
6.5 mi
7m
Washington Street
2.7 mi
4m
West Mount Pleasant Street
1.8 mi
3m
Broadway Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
East Wheeler Street
<0.1 mi
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 119.4 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, IA and West Burlington, 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
116 mi·2 hr 10 min·Avenue of the Saints
Toward I 380 South, IA 27 South: Cedar Rapids
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 218; IA 27
3.6 mi·4 min·Avenue of the Saints
6
Take the exit onto US 34; IA 163
0.3 mi·32 sec·US 34; IA 163
Exit 42Toward US 34 East, 163 East: Mount Pleasant, Burlington
7
Keep slight right at fork onto US 34; IA 163
23 mi·26 min·US 34; IA 163
Exit 42Toward US 34 East, IA 163 East: Burlington
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Toward Mount Pleasant Street
9
Turn right onto West Mount Pleasant Street
1.8 mi·3 min·West Mount Pleasant Street
10
Turn right onto Broadway Street
365 ft·17 sec·Broadway Street
11
Turn left onto East Wheeler Street
22 ft·0 sec·East Wheeler Street
12
Arrive at destination
East Wheeler 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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 76.8 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 119.4 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 34 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 76.8 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Burlington, 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 153.7 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Waterloo, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 119.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 76.8 mi from Waterloo, IA
· 1h 28m into the drive
The midpoint is around 76.8 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 119.4 miles.
Arriving in West Burlington, IA
The final approach into West Burlington, 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 West Burlington, 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 54.9
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.03 one way
$48.06 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.38
$52.77
premium
$4.89
$29.58
$59.16
diesel
$5.61
$33.94
$67.87
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.1
0
$16.14
$7.38
Efficient EV
38.4
0
$13.45
$6.15
EV Truck/SUV
61.5
0
$21.52
$9.84
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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 18, 2026
Origin
Waterloo, IA
Morning
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
8:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 17 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
West Burlington, IA
Morning
in West Burlington on Saturday
Local time
8:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
73°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
40 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 58m 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 West Burlington, IA covers 153.7 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Avenue of the Saints, US 34, I 380. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 76.8 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 $24.03 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 153.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 128.6 miles (US 34; IA 163): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Waterloo, IA and West Burlington, IA, road signs point toward 163 East: Mount Pleasant and Burlington.
