Origin
Atkins, IA
Late night in Atkins on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Atkins, IA to Waterloo, IA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
50.7 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Atkins, IA
Tara Winstead
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Atkins to Waterloo, you are in for a quick, 51-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect to spend about 58 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate entirely via local roads rather than high-speed interstates, keeping your fuel budget to a modest $8. Because there are no scheduled stops required, you have the flexibility to head out whenever your schedule allows. This route is a straightforward transition between two Iowa communities, providing a practical, no-fuss way to reach your destination.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 29 mi | 31m |
| 32nd Avenue | 15.3 mi | 26m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Park Ridge Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Southwest Smith Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Union Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 29 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Atkins, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Main Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Avenue
2
Turn right onto CR E44
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Park Ridge Road
3
Turn right onto CR W26
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
32nd Avenue
4
Continue on CR W26
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Southwest Smith Street
5
Turn left onto CR W26
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Main Street
6
Turn right onto CR W26
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Northwest Canton Street
7
Continue on CR W26
8.7 mi
·
15 min
·
32nd Avenue
8
Continue on CR W26
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Union Avenue
9
At end of road, turn right onto 55th Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
55th Street
10
Continue on 54th Street Trail
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
54th Street Trail
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
12
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
29 mi
·
31 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
14
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
15
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.4 miles from Atkins, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 47.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CR E44 / Park Ridge Road
Turn right onto CR E44 / Park Ridge Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR W26 / 32nd Avenue
Turn right onto CR W26 / 32nd Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
8.2 mi into trip
|
~15m in
|
CR W26 / Northwest Canton Street
Turn right onto CR W26 / Northwest Canton Street
Navigation decision point
4
17.5 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
55th Street
At end of road, turn right onto 55th Street
Navigation decision point
6
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.93 one way
$15.85 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.70 | $17.41 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.76 | $19.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.19 | $22.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
| Efficient EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.3 | 0 | $7.10 | $3.24 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Late night in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Vinton, IA
25 mi in
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
19 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
1h 10m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged from start to finish. You will rely on Park Ridge Road, 32nd Avenue, and Southwest Smith Street to navigate the 51-mile stretch. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route maintains a zero-percent highway share, meaning you will be navigating surface streets for the duration of the trip. The road personality is defined by its technical nature rather than high-speed cruising, so stay alert as you transition through the local landscape. It is a steady, hands-on driving experience that demands your attention to the winding local grid.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near CR E44 / Park Ridge Road.
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 1h 10m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CR E44 / Park Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CR W26 / 32nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (CR W26 / Northwest Canton Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 50.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29 miles on Avenue of the Saints. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (CR E44 / Park Ridge Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (CR W26 / 32nd Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 8.2 miles (CR W26 / Northwest Canton Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
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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