Origin
Winterset, IA
Afternoon in Winterset on Sunday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA
Drive Time
2h 36m
Distance
148.1 mi
238 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
Waterloo, IA
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 148.1 miles and takes about 2h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South John Wayne Drive, I 35, US 6 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.49 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
74.1 miles from Winterset, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 36m drive with frequent turns across 148.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South John Wayne Drive 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 Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 2h 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 Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South John Wayne Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 35 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 6 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marsh Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 160th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
South John Wayne Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Winterset, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on West Grade Street
125 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Grade Street
2
Turn left onto South John Wayne Drive
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
South John Wayne Drive
3
Continue straight
11 mi
·
15 min
4
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
5
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
13 min
6
Keep slight right to continue on I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
14 mi
·
16 min
·
I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
7
Keep slight left
4.5 mi
·
5 min
8
Take the exit slight right toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
9
Turn left onto Northeast Hubbell Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on Northeast Hubbell Road
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
11
Turn left onto Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
12
Continue on South Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
13
Continue on 160th Street
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
14
Turn left onto Sanford Avenue
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
15
Turn right onto 240th Street
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
16
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
17
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
18
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
19
Turn left onto N Avenue
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
20
Take the ramp right toward US 20 East: Waterloo
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 20 East: Waterloo
21
Merge slight left
18 mi
·
20 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward US 63: Sergeant Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
US 63: Sergeant Road
23
Turn slight right
121 ft
·
6 sec
24
Turn straight onto Sergeant Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
25
Turn right onto University Avenue
387 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
26
Turn straight
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
27
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
28
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
29
Turn right onto West 4th Street
75 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
30
Arrive at your destination
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 74.1 miles from Winterset, IA, or about 1h 18m 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 80 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.1 miles or 1h 18m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterloo, IA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Winterset, 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 Winterset, IA
This is one driving day of about 148.1 miles and 2h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Winterset, 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 74.1 mi from Winterset, IA · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.1 miles from Winterset, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
The final approach into Waterloo, 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 Waterloo, 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
$22.49 one way
$44.99 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $24.80 | $49.60 |
| premium | $4.80 | $27.96 | $55.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $32.90 | $65.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.4 | 0 | $15.55 | $7.11 |
| Efficient EV | 37 | 0 | $12.96 | $5.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.73 | $9.48 |
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.
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Afternoon in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
1:50 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
44°F
Altoona, 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
29 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
2h 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 Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA covers 148.1 miles and takes about 2h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are South John Wayne Drive, I 35, US 6 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.1 miles from Winterset, IA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.49 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.
The drive from Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 2h 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 Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Winterset, IA to Waterloo, IA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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