Trip from Waterloo, IA to Winterset, IA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

3h 11m

Distance

147.4 mi

237 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 59m ★

6 AM

3h 11m

8 AM

3h 34m

10 AM

3h 19m

12 PM

3h 17m

3 PM

3h 20m

5 PM

3h 33m

8 PM

3h 4m

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

Winterset, IA

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Winterset, IA covers 147.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Washington Street, West 5th Street, West 4th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.04 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

73.7 miles from Waterloo, IA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 11m drive with frequent turns across 147.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 28 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 Winterset, IA is easy. At 3h 11m 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 Winterset, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Washington Street	—	—
West 5th Street	—	—
West 4th Street	—	—
West Ridgeway Avenue	—	—
Sergeant Road	—	—
Avenue of the Saints	—	—
IA 14	—	—
N Avenue	—	—

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 Winterset, IA.

Start on West 4th Street

75 ft · 6 sec · West 4th Street

Turn right onto Washington Street

384 ft · 10 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto West 5th Street

0.3 mi · 34 sec · West 5th Street

Continue on West 4th Street

2.4 mi · 4 min · West 4th Street

Turn slight right onto West Ridgeway Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · West Ridgeway Avenue

Turn left onto Sergeant Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sergeant Road

Take the ramp left

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Merge slight left onto Avenue of the Saints

18 mi · 21 min · Avenue of the Saints

Take the exit slight right toward IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

0.4 mi · 59 sec · IA 14: Parkersburg, Grundy Center

Turn left onto N Avenue

4.5 mi · 6 min · N Avenue

Turn right onto 210th Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · 210th Street

Turn sharp left onto County Road T37

1.0 mi · 1 min · County Road T37

Continue on M Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · M Avenue

Turn right onto 240th Street

6.3 mi · 9 min · 240th Street

Turn left onto Sanford Avenue

16 mi · 21 min · Sanford Avenue

Turn right onto 160th Street

4.3 mi · 5 min · 160th Street

Keep slight left to continue on North Main Street

1.2 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Continue on Marsh Avenue

5.9 mi · 8 min · Marsh Avenue

Turn right

36 mi · 42 min

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

13 mi · 15 min · I 80 west, US 65 south: Des Moines

Continue straight

5.6 mi · 6 min

Keep slight right to continue on I 80 West: Omaha

13 mi · 14 min · I 80 West: Omaha

Take the exit slight right toward US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset

0.3 mi · 51 sec · US 169, US 6: Adel, Winterset

Turn left onto North Avenue

482 ft · 9 sec · North Avenue

Continue on Guthrie Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Guthrie Street

Continue on North Avenue

14 mi · 20 min · North Avenue

Turn right onto West Grade Street

125 ft · 6 sec · West Grade Street

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 73.7 miles from Waterloo, IA, or about 1h 35m 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 32 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 73.7 miles or 1h 35m 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 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Winterset, 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 147.4 miles and 3h 11m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 73.7 mi from Waterloo, IA · 1h 35m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Colfax, IA

74 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

Eldora, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Colfax, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.7 miles from Waterloo, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Winterset, IA

The final approach into Winterset, 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 Winterset, 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

$23.04 one way

$46.09 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$25.30	$50.60
premium	$4.89	$28.37	$56.73
diesel	$5.61	$32.54	$65.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 51.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	44.2	$15.48	$7.08
Efficient EV	36.9	$12.90	$5.90
EV Truck/SUV	59	$20.64	$9.43

Gas CO2

52 kg

EV CO2

17 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 15, 2026

Origin

Waterloo, IA

Evening in Waterloo on Wednesday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Winterset, IA

Evening in Winterset on Wednesday

Local time

6:34 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

72°F

Colfax, IA

74 mi in

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

3 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

3h 11m 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 Winterset, IA covers 147.4 miles and takes about 3h 11m 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 73.7 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 $23.04 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Waterloo, IA to Winterset, IA is easy. At 3h 11m 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 Winterset, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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