Origin
Albia, IA
Afternoon in Albia on Tuesday
Local time
12:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albia, IA to Waterloo, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 4m
Distance
125.1 mi
201 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$20
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 53m
★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 10m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albia, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Albia, IA to Waterloo, IA is 125.1 miles and takes about 3h 4m via US 63, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, traversing the Midwest region from one side to the other. You'll experience a mixed drive, offering a blend of speeds and road types. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward, relatively short drive between two points in Iowa without extensive planning needed. It's a practical option for a single-day journey.
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
62.6 miles from Albia, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 63 | 53 mi | 1h 16m |
| East Market Street | 22 mi | 32m |
| J Avenue | 18 mi | 26m |
| State Highway 137 | 14.5 mi | 21m |
| 100th Street | 8 mi | 11m |
| 120th Street | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| 380th Avenue | 2 mi | 2m |
| South County Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
US 63
— 53 mi, about 1h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albia, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on this road
31 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
170 ft
·
12 sec
·
South 2nd Street
3
Turn left onto CR H35
356 ft
·
9 sec
·
Benton Avenue East
4
Turn right onto IA 5
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
North Main Street
5
Keep slight right at fork onto IA 137
14 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 137
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
7
Merge onto US 63; IA 163
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 63; IA 163
8
Take the exit onto US 63
15 mi
·
23 min
·
US 63
Toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
9
Turn right onto US 63
22 mi
·
32 min
·
East Market Street
10
Continue on US 63
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
120th Street
11
Turn left onto US 6; US 63
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
380th Avenue
12
Turn right onto US 63
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
100th Street
13
Continue on US 63
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
J Avenue
14
Continue on US 63
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Street
15
Turn left onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
West 13th Street
16
Turn right onto US 63
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Harding Street
17
Continue on US 63
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South County Road
18
Continue on US 63
12 mi
·
17 min
·
J Avenue
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
30 mi
·
43 min
·
US 63
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
21
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
22
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
23
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
24
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
25
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 3h 4m duration, you have a lot of flexibility with this 125.1-mile trip. Leaving in the morning would put you in Waterloo with plenty of daylight remaining. The $20 fuel estimate suggests you won't need to worry too much about gas stops, though it's always wise to top off before leaving Albia. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 53 miles on US 63, so plan your break before or after this segment. Keep an eye out as you transition from US 63 to J Avenue, as this change in road type might require a slight adjustment in your driving.
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 62.6 miles from Albia, IA, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 53 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 28 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 32m 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 31m
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 Albia, 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 Albia, IA
This is one driving day of about 125.1 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Albia, 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 US 63 for about 53 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 62.6 miles from Albia, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 125.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 2nd Street
Turn right onto South 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Turn left onto CR H35 / Benton Avenue East
Navigation decision point
5
22.9 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63 North: Oskaloosa, New Sharon
7
94.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
US 63
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
125.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 4m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.56 one way
$39.12 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
44 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $21.47 | $42.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $24.07 | $48.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.62 | $55.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.14 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.3 | 0 | $10.95 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.51 | $8.01 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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 Tuesday
Local time
12:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Brooklyn, IA
63 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
4 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
3h 4m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 54% of it utilizing highways. Expect a significant portion of your journey, approximately 53 miles, to be on US 63 without interruption. The drive begins on East Market Street before merging onto US 63, which forms the backbone of this trip. As you progress, you'll transition onto J Avenue, indicating a shift in the road's character. The combination means you'll encounter both faster-paced highway travel and potentially more varied local road conditions.
54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53 mi on US 63.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 2nd Street.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 4m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Albia, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward New Sharon along the way.
New Sharon
22.9 mi in
|
~32m
|
via US 63
About the Cities
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
Full guide →Waterloo is a city of 68,000 people (2020) in of Black Hawk County in Northeast Iowa. It adjoins the city of Cedar Falls. It is home to an important John Deere tractor factory, which offers tours.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 125.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53 miles on US 63. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 2nd Street): Navigation decision point; near the start (CR H35 / Benton Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (US 63): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Waterloo, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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