Origin
Central City, IA
Late night in Central City on Sunday
Local time
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Central City, 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 9m
Distance
54.7 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 4m
★
6 AM
1h 10m
8 AM
1h 21m
10 AM
1h 14m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 14m
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.
Central City, IA
Adriaan Greyling
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Central City, IA to Waterloo, IA is 54.7 miles and takes about 1h 9m via Avenue of the Saints, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip primarily within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Iowa. Given its relatively short distance and duration, it's a drive you can easily complete without needing an overnight stay. The route offers a local feel, making it a convenient option for a quick journey between these two communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Avenue of the Saints | 35 mi | 38m |
| Central City Road | 12.4 mi | 16m |
| I 380 | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Franklin Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Lewis Access Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| East Grubbs Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Marion Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 35 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Central City, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
50 sec
·
Main Street
2
Continue on West Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
West Maple Street
3
Turn left onto IA 13
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
Marion Road
4
Turn right onto CR E16
12 mi
·
16 min
·
Central City Road
5
Continue on CR E16
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Grubbs Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto CR W6E
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Franklin Street
7
Continue on CR W36
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Lewis Access Road
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
9
Merge onto I 380; IA 27
35 mi
·
38 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
I 380
Toward I-380 north, US 218 north: Waterloo
11
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
12
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
13
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Central City, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 51.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
CR E16 / Central City Road
Turn right onto CR E16 / Central City Road
Navigation decision point
5
13.9 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
CR W6E / Franklin Street
At end of road, turn left onto CR W6E / Franklin Street
Navigation decision point
3
15.9 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
3
16.2 mi into trip
|
~25m 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
51.3 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
$8.55 one way
$17.10 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.39 | $18.78 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.53 | $21.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.08 | $24.15 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.74 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
3:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Urbana, IA
27 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
2 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
1h 9m 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 drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it feel more like a local exploration than a high-speed interstate cruise. Only about 5% of the journey involves highway driving, with the majority taking place on local roads like Central City Road and Avenue of the Saints. You'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 35 miles on Avenue of the Saints, offering a consistent section before the turns pick up again. Expect a varied driving experience, transitioning between quicker segments and more deliberate navigation through towns and rural areas.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
13 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?
3/10
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 0.9 miles in near CR E16 / Central City Road.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 9m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.9 miles (CR E16 / Central City Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (CR W6E / Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 9m. Total distance: 54.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). 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 0.9 miles (CR E16 / Central City Road): Navigation decision point; at 13.9 miles (CR W6E / Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 15.9 miles: 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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