Origin
Cedar Falls, IA
Late night in Cedar Falls on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cedar Falls, 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
11m
Distance
8.1 mi
13 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 10m
★
6 AM
0h 11m
8 AM
0h 13m
10 AM
0h 12m
12 PM
0h 12m
3 PM
0h 12m
5 PM
0h 13m
8 PM
0h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cedar Falls, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cedar Falls, IA to Waterloo, IA is 8.1 miles and takes about 11 minutes via Leo P Rooff Expressway, with a fuel budget near $1 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Iowa and the Midwest region, making it a simple hop between two nearby cities. Given its brevity, it's perfect for a quick errand, a short commute, or a way to connect between these two communities without much fuss. You'll spend most of your time on a main expressway, so expect a straightforward journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | 6.2 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Leo P Rooff Expressway
— 6.2 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cedar Falls, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto 1st Street
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
1st Street
3
Continue on IA 57
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
4
Continue on IA 57
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
6
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Washington Street
7
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
8
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
3 of 33 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 8.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
1st Street
Turn right onto 1st Street
Navigation decision point
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers C...
5
8.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.27 one way
$2.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.39 | $2.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.56 | $3.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.79 | $3.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.8 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 | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| Efficient EV | 2 | 0 | $0.71 | $0.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.13 | $0.52 |
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
Waterloo, IA
Late night in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
12:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
18 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
11m 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 is heavily highway-focused, with 77% of the drive utilizing major roads like the Leo P Rooff Expressway and Main Street. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 6.2 miles on the Leo P Rooff Expressway, offering a consistent, uninterrupted travel experience. The profile suggests a primarily highway drive, meaning you're likely to experience faster speeds and fewer traffic signals for the bulk of the trip. Expect a smooth and efficient journey as you transition from Cedar Falls to Waterloo.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 6.2 mi on Leo P Rooff Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Leo P Rooff Expressway and Main Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near 1st Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Cedar Falls, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 11m with 77% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
Between Cedar Falls, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Riverfront and Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.
Riverfront
7.5 mi in
|
~10m
Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
7.5 mi in
|
~10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 11m. Total distance: 8.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 6.2 miles on Leo P Rooff Expressway. 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 0.7 miles (1st Street): Navigation decision point; at 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.1 miles (West 4th 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Waterloo, IA
More trips to Waterloo, IA
Explore more options from Cedar Falls, IA or browse trips ending in Waterloo, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.