Origin
Leon, IA
Late night in Leon on Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leon, IA to Waterloo, IA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
181.6 mi
292 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 45m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 55m
5 PM
4h 9m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leon, IA
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Waterloo, IA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Leon, IA to Waterloo, IA is 181.6 miles and takes about 3h 44m via I 35 and US 20, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region into another part of the Midwest. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward trip. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, it's an easy one-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
90.8 miles from Leon, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 35 | 63.7 mi | 1h 9m |
| Northeast Hubbell Road | 35.2 mi | 41m |
| US 20 | 18 mi | 20m |
| Sanford Avenue | 15.9 mi | 21m |
| Northwest Church Street | 9.4 mi | 13m |
| 240th Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Marsh Avenue | 5.9 mi | 8m |
| I 80 | 4.5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 35
— 63.7 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leon, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on US 69
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
Northwest Church Street
2
Turn left onto 120th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
120th Street
3
Continue on CR J14
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Line Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Webb
5
Merge onto I 35
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
Use the slight left lane.
7
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 65
Exit 142
Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, Bondurant
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Avenue
9
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi
·
41 min
·
Northeast Hubbell Road
10
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Marsh Avenue
11
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
12
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
160th Street
13
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi
·
21 min
·
Sanford Avenue
14
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi
·
9 min
·
240th Street
15
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
M Avenue
16
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road T37
17
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
210th Street
18
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
N Avenue
19
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
20
Merge onto US 20
18 mi
·
20 min
·
US 20
21
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
22
Turn slight right
120 ft
·
6 sec
23
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft
·
9 sec
·
University Avenue
25
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
US 63
26
Turn right
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
27
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
28
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft
·
2 sec
·
West 4th Street
29
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 44m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is ideal for a same-day trip to Waterloo, IA. You'll want to plan for one stop along the way, perhaps around the halfway point, to break up the 181.6-mile distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 63.7-mile stretch on I 35, as services might be less frequent there. The estimated fuel cost of $28 should give you a good baseline for budgeting.
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 90.8 miles from Leon, IA, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.7 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 40 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.8 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 1m
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 Leon, 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 Leon, IA
This is one driving day of about 181.6 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Leon, 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 35 for about 63.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90.8 miles from Leon, IA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 35 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.7 miles.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 152.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the ramp toward Webb
Navigation decision point
Toward Webb
5
11.4 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
I 35
Merge onto I 35
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
75.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m 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
79.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m 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
152.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 6m in
|
210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.39 one way
$56.78 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
64 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $31.17 | $62.34 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.95 | $69.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.09 | $80.19 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.07 | $8.72 |
| Efficient EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.89 | $7.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.6 | 0 | $25.42 | $11.62 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:39 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
14 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
3h 44m 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 a mixed highway and surface road experience, with 48% of the route on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving for 63.7 miles on I 35. After leaving the interstate, you'll transition to surface roads, including Northeast Hubbell Road and US 20, which will likely involve more local traffic and lower speeds.
48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.7 mi on I 35.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 181.6 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.1 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Leon, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Webb and Bondurant.
Webb
11.1 mi in
|
~16m
Bondurant
79.6 mi in
|
~1h 31m
|
via US 65
About the Cities
Arriving in Waterloo, IA
Full guide →Waterloo is a city of 68,000 people (2020) in of Black Hawk County in Northeast Iowa. It adjoins the city of Cedar Falls. It is home to an important John Deere tractor factory, which offers tours.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 181.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.7 miles on I 35. 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 11.1 miles: Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (I 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Waterloo, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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