Origin
Hampton, IA
Late night in Hampton on Sunday
Local time
2:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hampton, 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 16m
Distance
57.5 mi
93 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 10m
★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 28m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hampton, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 57.5-mile drive from Hampton to Waterloo, Iowa, can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 2 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll primarily navigate using Central Avenue East and Highway 3, with a section on 210th Street. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this short journey through the Midwest is budget-friendly. No overnight stays are necessary, and the route's compact nature means you have plenty of flexibility for departures and any spontaneous stops. It's a practical option for connecting these two Iowa communities without a significant time commitment.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 210th Street | 18 mi | 24m |
| Avenue of the Saints | 15.3 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 3 | 12.5 mi | 17m |
| Leo P Rooff Expressway | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| South Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| 230th Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Central Avenue East | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| US 218 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
210th Street
— 18 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hampton, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on US 65
27 ft
·
8 sec
·
4th Street Northeast
2
Turn left onto IA 3
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Central Avenue East
3
Continue on IA 3
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 3
4
Continue on IA 3
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
210th Street
5
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
South Street
6
Continue on IA 3
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
210th Street
7
Continue on IA 3; IA 14
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 3
8
Continue on IA 3
8.8 mi
·
11 min
·
210th Street
9
Continue on IA 3
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 3
10
Continue on IA 3
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
230th Street
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
12
Merge onto US 218; IA 27
15 mi
·
17 min
·
Avenue of the Saints
13
Take the exit
317 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
14
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
15
Merge onto US 218
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Leo P Rooff Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
17
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Washington Street
18
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
19
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.8 miles from Hampton, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 57.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
IA 3 / Central Avenue East
Turn left onto IA 3 / Central Avenue East
Navigation decision point
3
35.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
50.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 218 south: Waterloo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
5
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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
57.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.99 one way
$17.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.87 | $19.74 |
| premium | $4.89 | $11.07 | $22.13 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.70 | $25.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.04 | $2.76 |
| Efficient EV | 14.4 | 0 | $5.03 | $2.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23 | 0 | $8.05 | $3.68 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
2:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Waverly, IA
29 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
21 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
1h 16m 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?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this trip, as there's no highway travel involved, meaning 0% highway share. While the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, the profile suggests frequent directional changes rather than long, straightaways. You'll be on local roads like Central Avenue East and Highway 3 for the entirety of the 57.5 miles. This type of driving often involves navigating through towns and varied terrain, so keep your attention sharp as you transition between different road segments on your way to Waterloo.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18 mi on 210th Street.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 IA 3 / Central Avenue East.
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 16m drive. You will face about 7 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 (IA 3 / Central Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 35.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 16m. Total distance: 57.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18 miles on 210th Street. 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: near the start (IA 3 / Central Avenue East): Navigation decision point; at 35.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 50.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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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