Origin
Waterloo, NE
Evening in Waterloo on Wednesday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waterloo, NE to Boys Town, NE
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
15m
Distance
9.7 mi
16 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 14m
★
6 AM
0h 16m
8 AM
0h 18m
10 AM
0h 17m
12 PM
0h 16m
3 PM
0h 17m
5 PM
0h 18m
8 PM
0h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Boys Town, NE
WoodysMedia
Trip Overview
The drive from Waterloo, NE to Boys Town, NE covers 9.7 miles and takes about 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Dodge Road, River Road Drive, North 228th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.5 miles on West Dodge Road. At current regular gas prices, budget about $1.52 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
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
4.8 miles from Waterloo, NE
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 15m drive with frequent turns across 9.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Dodge Road is the longest continuous segment at about 6.5 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.3 miles in near L-28B / West Dodge Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.3 miles (L-28B / West Dodge Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
L-28B / West Dodge Road
Merge onto L-28B / West Dodge Road toward US 6, NE 31
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 6, NE 31
6
8.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Take the exit toward 144th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 144th Street
8
8.9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 144th Street south
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward 144th Street south
7
9.2 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
Overlook Road
Turn left onto Overlook Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
9.6 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
Dowd Drive
Enter roundabout onto Dowd Drive
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Waterloo, NE to Boys Town, NE, road signs begin pointing toward 144Th Street South along the way.
144Th Street South
8.9 mi in
|
~13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Dodge Road | 6.5 mi | 7m |
| River Road Drive | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| North 228th Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| North 144th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Front Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Overlook Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Norton Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Dowd Drive | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Dodge Road
— 6.5 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterloo, NE and Boys Town, NE.
1
Start on North Front Street
58 ft
·
7 sec
·
North Front Street
2
Turn left onto 3rd Street
243 ft
·
12 sec
·
3rd Street
3
Turn left onto South Front Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Front Street
4
Continue on River Road Drive
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
River Road Drive
5
Continue on North 228th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 228th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward NE 28B Link East: Omaha
7
Merge onto L-28B
6.5 mi
·
7 min
·
West Dodge Road
Toward US 6, NE 31
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward 144th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft
·
10 sec
Toward 144th Street south
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn straight onto North 144th Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
North 144th Street
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto Overlook Road
0.2 mi
·
46 sec
·
Overlook Road
Use the left lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Norton Drive
36 ft
·
2 sec
·
Norton Drive
13
Continue on Norton Drive
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Norton Drive
14
Enter roundabout onto Dowd Drive
137 ft
·
7 sec
·
Dowd Drive
15
Continue on Dowd Drive
180 ft
·
8 sec
·
Dowd Drive
16
Arrive at destination
Dowd Drive
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 4.8 miles from Waterloo, NE, or about 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.5 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 9.7 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 4.8 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boys Town, NE than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Waterloo, NE.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Waterloo, NE
This is one driving day of about 9.7 miles and 15m.
At 9.7 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on West Dodge Road for about 6.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 4.8 mi from Waterloo, NE · 8m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 9.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 4.8 miles from Waterloo, NE, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Boys Town, NE
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Boys Town, NE if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.52 one way
$3.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.67 | $3.33 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.87 | $3.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.14 | $4.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Destination
Boys Town, NE
Evening in Boys Town on Wednesday
Local time
6:16 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
15m 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, NE to Boys Town, NE covers 9.7 miles and takes about 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Dodge Road, River Road Drive, North 228th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.8 miles from Waterloo, NE. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.52 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 9.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 2.3 miles (L-28B / West Dodge Road): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Waterloo, NE to Boys Town, NE, road signs begin pointing toward 144Th Street South along the way.
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