Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
45.5 mi
73 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Conrad, IA
cottonbro studio
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Conrad, IA to Waterloo, IA is 45.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 1 minute via US 20, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward Midwest hop keeps you within Iowa for the entire journey. Expect a mixed drive that's mostly efficient, making it an easy option for a quick relocation or a short excursion. With just one day recommended, this route is ideal for those seeking a simple, no-fuss trip between two points in the heartland.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | 18 mi | 20m |
| K Avenue | 9.5 mi | 12m |
| N Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Sergeant Road | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| 240th Street | 2 mi | 3m |
| 330th Street | 2 mi | 2m |
| M Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| County Road T37 | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Conrad, IA and Waterloo, IA.
Start on North Main Street
Turn left onto CR D67
Continue on CR D67
Turn left onto CR T29
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
Turn left onto M Avenue
Continue on County Road T37
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Turn left onto IA 14
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 20
Take the exit
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto US 63
Turn right onto US 63
Turn straight onto US 63
Turn right
Continue on Washington Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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.
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from Conrad, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 45.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto CR D67 / East Center Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto CR T29 / K Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175 / 240th Street
Navigation decision point
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$7.11 one way
$14.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.81 | $15.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.76 | $17.51 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.05 | $20.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.78 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.98 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Conrad on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
32°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Waterloo on Sunday
Local time
2:42 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
49°F
Hudson, IA
23 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive offers a mixed bag of road types, with about 40% of the journey on highways. You'll experience roughly 18 miles on US 20 as a significant uninterrupted stretch, providing a good sense of highway speed. The route transitions between these faster sections and local roads like K Avenue and N Avenue, offering a varied driving experience. It's not a monotonous interstate grind, nor is it a purely rural two-lane affair, but rather a blend that keeps things interesting enough for the short distance.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR D67 / East Center Street.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 1m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR D67 / East Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.5 miles (CR T29 / K Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 12 miles (IA 14; IA 175 / 240th Street): Navigation decision point.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 45.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Straightforward navigation.
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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