Origin
La Porte City, IA
Late night in La Porte City on Sunday
Local time
5:17 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Porte 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
23m
Distance
14.9 mi
24 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Fair
2 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 21m
★
6 AM
0h 23m
8 AM
0h 27m
10 AM
0h 25m
12 PM
0h 24m
3 PM
0h 25m
5 PM
0h 27m
8 PM
0h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Porte City, IA
Loïc D-Goth
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
La Porte City to Waterloo is 14.9 miles and takes about 23 minutes via La Porte Road, Washington Street, and Commercial Street, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short hop stays within the Midwest region, specifically within Iowa, making it a straightforward local drive. Expect a route that involves frequent turns rather than open highway cruising. Given its minimal distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, offering flexibility for departure times.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| La Porte Road | 9.4 mi | 14m |
| Washington Street | 5.3 mi | 8m |
| Commercial Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| 4th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
La Porte Road
— 9.4 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Porte City, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on US 218
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Commercial Street
2
Turn left onto US 218
312 ft
·
5 sec
·
4th Street
3
Continue on US 218
9.4 mi
·
14 min
·
La Porte Road
4
Continue on US 218
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Washington Street
5
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
6
Turn left onto West 4th Street
398 ft
·
13 sec
·
West 4th Street
7
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
2 of 22 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 14.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 218 / 4th Street
Turn left onto US 218 / 4th Street
Navigation decision point
3
14.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
|
West 4th Street
Turn left onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.33 one way
$4.66 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $2.56 | $5.12 |
| premium | $4.89 | $2.87 | $5.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.29 | $6.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.56 | $0.72 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.30 | $0.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6 | 0 | $2.09 | $0.95 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
5:17 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
23m 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 as 'turn-heavy' with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be navigating local roads for the entire 14.9 miles. The longest stretch without a turn is 9.4 miles along La Porte Road. You'll experience a more engaged driving style as you move through town, transitioning from La Porte Road onto Washington Street and then Commercial Street. It’s a local journey that keeps you connected to the surrounding communities rather than isolated on an interstate.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
7 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.4 mi on La Porte Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
1/10
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 0.1 miles in near US 218 / 4th Street.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from La Porte City, IA to Waterloo, IA is easy. At 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (US 218 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 23m. Total distance: 14.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.4 miles on La Porte Road. 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 0.1 miles (US 218 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 14.9 miles (West 4th Street): 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Waterloo, IA
Explore more options from La Porte City, IA or browse trips ending in Waterloo, IA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse IA road trips.