Traveling from Bellevue to Waterloo covers 112.6 miles across the Iowa landscape. Expect a travel time of approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, making this a very manageable single-day trip. You will primarily navigate via US 52, the Great River Road, and the Southwest Arterial. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, it is an affordable journey for a weekend getaway or a quick business commute. Because the drive is short, there is no need to split this into an overnight trip unless you prefer a slower pace. The route stays entirely within the Midwest, offering a consistent regional feel as you head west.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.3 miles from Bellevue, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 52
82 mi
1h 35m
Great River Road
16.7 mi
22m
Southwest Arterial
5.2 mi
7m
I 380
2.9 mi
4m
South Riverview Street
2.5 mi
4m
US 61
1.6 mi
2m
Bellevue Road
0.7 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 52
— 82 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bellevue, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on US 52
2.5 mi·4 min·South Riverview Street
2
Continue on US 52
7.6 mi·10 min·Great River Road
3
Continue on US 52
0.5 mi·54 sec·Main Street
4
Continue on US 52
9.1 mi·12 min·Great River Road
5
Continue on US 52
0.7 mi·1 min·Bellevue Road
6
Turn left onto US 61; US 151; US 52
1.6 mi·2 min·US 61; US 151; US 52
7
Take the exit onto US 52
0.4 mi·55 sec·US 52
Toward US 52 North
8
Continue on US 52
4.9 mi·6 min·Southwest Arterial
9
Enter roundabout onto US 52
100 ft·5 sec·Southwest Arterial
10
Continue on US 52
0.2 mi·35 sec·Southwest Arterial
11
Turn left onto US 52
82 mi·1 hr 34 min·US 52
Toward US 20 East, US 52 North: Waterloo, DyersvilleUse the left lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi·4 min·I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
13
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
14
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft·13 sec·West 4th Street
15
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. You will not need to plan for major stops, as the entire 2 hours and 20 minutes can be completed in one go. Keep in mind that US 52 serves as the backbone of your trip, so monitor traffic conditions on that specific highway before you head out. Because you are only looking at about $17 in fuel, filling up before you leave Bellevue will likely get you all the way to Waterloo without needing a pit stop. Use the lack of required stops to your advantage by planning your arrival time precisely to meet your needs in Waterloo.
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 56.3 miles from Bellevue, IA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82 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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.3 miles or 1h 13m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 55m
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 Bellevue, 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 Bellevue, IA
This is one driving day of about 112.6 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Bellevue, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 52 for about 82 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 5
5 decision points cluster between mile 22 and 112.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
22 mi into trip|~31m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 52 North
4
27.3 mi into trip|~39m in|US 52 / Southwest Arterial
Enter roundabout onto US 52 / Southwest Arterial
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
27.6 mi into trip|~39m in|US 52
Turn left onto US 52 toward US 20 East, US 52 North: Waterloo, Dyersville
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 20 East, US 52 North: Waterloo, Dyers...
6
109.2 mi into trip|~2h 14m 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
3
112.5 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|West 4th Street
Turn left onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.60 one way
$35.21 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.33
$38.66
premium
$4.89
$21.67
$43.34
diesel
$5.61
$24.86
$49.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.8
0
$11.82
$5.40
Efficient EV
28.2
0
$9.85
$4.50
EV Truck/SUV
45
0
$15.76
$7.21
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Bellevue, IA
Late night
in Bellevue on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Late night
in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
1:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
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
2h 20m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 77% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You should prepare for a consistent pace, anchored by a significant 82-mile stretch on US 52. While the route moves quickly, the transition between the Great River Road and the Southwest Arterial keeps the driving experience varied. You will find that the road maintains a steady flow, allowing you to cover the distance efficiently without frequent interruptions. It is a straightforward trek that favors highway travel over winding local backroads.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82 mi on US 52.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 52 and Great River Road. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 22 miles in near US 52.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Bellevue, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 2h 20m with 77% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.3 miles (US 52 / Southwest Arterial): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 27.6 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here. 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.
On the drive from Bellevue, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Dyersville along the way.
Dyersville
27.6 mi in|~39m|via US 52
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 112.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 82 miles on US 52. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 22 miles (US 52): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.3 miles (US 52 / Southwest Arterial): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 27.6 miles (US 52): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
