Origin
Center Point, IA
Late night in Center Point on Sunday
Local time
2:57 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Center Point, 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
48m
Distance
40.6 mi
65 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 49m
8 AM
0h 57m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 51m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Center Point, IA
Atlantic Ambience
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Center Point, IA to Waterloo, IA is 40.6 miles and takes about 48 minutes via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward local journey. Expect a route that involves frequent turns rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of highway. Given its short duration, this drive is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 35 mi | 38m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Lewis Access Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| State Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 35 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Center Point, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on State Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
State Street
2
Turn right onto CR W6E
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Franklin Street
3
Continue on CR W36
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lewis Access Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
5
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
35 mi
·
38 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
7
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
8
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
9
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Center Point, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 40.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR W6E / Franklin Street
Turn right onto CR W6E / Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
3
1.8 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge onto I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
37.1 mi into trip
|
~42m 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
40.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn left onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.35 one way
$12.69 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.97 | $13.94 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.81 | $15.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.96 | $17.93 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.26 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.55 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.68 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
2:57 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
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
48m 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 is a turn-heavy local drive, with only about 7% of the route on the highway. Your longest stretch without a significant turn or highway exit will be approximately 35 miles along the Avenue of the Saints. The drive will feel more like navigating local roads, with a need for attention to turns and intersections, rather than a continuous highway cruise. The mix of main roads and local access means you'll experience varied driving conditions.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
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. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CR W6E / Franklin Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Center Point, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 48m with 7% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (CR W6E / Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 40.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35 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 0.2 miles (CR W6E / Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Navigation decision point; at 2.1 miles (I 380; IA 27 / Avenue of the Saints): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 from Center Point, IA
More trips to Waterloo, IA
Explore more options from Center Point, IA or browse trips ending in Waterloo, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.