This 287.7-mile drive from Hamburg to Waterloo, Iowa, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 35 minutes. You'll primarily be on the interstate, with about 71% of the journey utilizing major highways like I-80 and I-29. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $45, which is quite reasonable for the distance covered. Given its focus on efficient travel across the Midwest, this route is best suited for those prioritizing getting to their destination smoothly. With only one recommended stop, it's designed for a straightforward journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143.8 miles from Hamburg, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 80
137.1 mi
2h 28m
I 29
46.4 mi
49m
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
US 20
18 mi
20m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 137.1 mi, about 2h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hamburg, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi·51 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto IA 333
0.2 mi·27 sec·North Street
3
Continue on IA 333
0.6 mi·56 sec·State Highway 333
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
5
Merge onto I 29
46 mi·49 min·I 29
6
Take the exit
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 48AToward I 80 East: Des Moines
7
Continue on I 80; US 6
118 mi·2 hr 6 min·I 80; US 6
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
10
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
12
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
13
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
14
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
15
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
16
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
17
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
18
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
19
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
20
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
21
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
22
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
23
Merge onto US 20
18 mi·20 min·US 20
24
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
25
Turn slight right
120 ft·6 sec
26
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi·5 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft·9 sec·University Avenue
28
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 63
29
Turn right
0.1 mi·10 sec
30
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Washington Street
31
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
32
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 287.7-mile journey, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially if you're traveling on a weekday. The 5-hour, 35-minute duration makes it a solid day trip, but plan for that one suggested stop to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major city exit can be over 137 miles on I-80. The $45 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always have a little extra buffer. Since the route is largely interstate, flexibility with your timing is a key advantage.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.8 miles from Hamburg, IA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.1 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 63 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.8 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
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 Hamburg, 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 Hamburg, IA
This is one driving day of about 287.7 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Hamburg, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 137.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
4.9 mi from route
~12 min detour
$10 to $20
mile 226
Marshalltown, Iowa
Hours: 10:30 am–7 pm
+16417521375
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.9 and 258.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
47.9 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Des Moines
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 48A
Toward I 80 East: Des Moines
9
166.7 mi into trip|~3h in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
181.1 mi into trip|~3h 17m in|I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
185.6 mi into trip|~3h 22m in|US 65
Take the exit onto US 65 toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Ma...
5
258.7 mi into trip|~4h 57m in|210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.98 one way
$89.96 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$49.38
$98.77
premium
$4.89
$55.37
$110.73
diesel
$5.61
$63.52
$127.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.3
1
$30.21
$13.81
Efficient EV
71.9
0
$25.17
$11.51
EV Truck/SUV
115.1
1
$40.28
$18.41
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Hamburg, IA
Evening
in Hamburg on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Evening
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
8:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Stuart, IA
144 mi in
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
16 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
5h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 5-hour, 35-minute trip. With 71% of the route on interstates, you'll experience a significant amount of time on fast-paced highways. The longest continuous stretch is 137.1 miles, primarily on I-80, meaning you can cover substantial ground without frequent exits. While Northeast Hubbell Road is part of the route, the overall character leans heavily towards efficient interstate travel, making it a predictable but effective way to cross Iowa.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 137.1 mi on I 80.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 29. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.9 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 287.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 166.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hamburg, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
Minneapolis
166.7 mi in|~3h|via I 80
Kansas City
166.7 mi in|~3h|via I 80
Bondurant
185.6 mi in|~3h 22m|via US 65
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 287.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 137.1 miles on I 80. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Waterloo, IA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 166.7 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 181.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Waterloo, IA before the return drive.
