If you are planning to travel between Manly and Waterloo, Iowa, expect a straightforward 90.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to complete without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. The route keeps you entirely within the Midwest, transitioning between two Iowa towns via a network of local roads. It serves as a practical, no-frills connection if you are looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.2 miles from Manly, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Avenue of the Saints
69.1 mi
1h 19m
Thrush Avenue
11 mi
18m
Leo P Rooff Expressway
5.8 mi
6m
State Highway 9
3.3 mi
4m
Broad Street
1 mi
1m
East South Street
0.5 mi
1m
US 218
0.3 mi
<1m
North Broadway Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Avenue of the Saints
— 69.1 mi, about 1h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manly, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on this road
264 ft·21 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
0.2 mi·58 sec·North Broadway Street
3
Turn left onto IA 9
0.5 mi·1 min·East South Street
4
Continue on IA 9
3.3 mi·4 min·State Highway 9
5
Turn right onto CR S56
2.0 mi·3 min·Thrush Avenue
6
Continue on CR S56
1.0 mi·1 min·Broad Street
7
Continue on CR S56
8.9 mi·15 min·Thrush Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·54 sec
9
Merge onto US 18; IA 27
69 mi·1 hr 19 min·Avenue of the Saints
10
Take the exit
317 ft·7 sec
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
11
Continue on US 218
0.3 mi·39 sec·US 218
Toward US 218 south: Waterloo
12
Merge onto US 218
5.8 mi·6 min·Leo P Rooff Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward Downtown Riverfront, Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
14
Turn straight onto Washington Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·Washington Street
15
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
16
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for a morning start allows you to settle into your destination by midday. Given that there are no scheduled stops in the data, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave, considering the $14 estimated cost. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can make the drive feel longer than the clock suggests, so stay alert at every intersection. If you prefer a relaxed pace, treat the 90.8-mile distance as an opportunity to enjoy a steady drive without the pressure of heavy traffic congestion.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46.2 miles from Manly, IA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 69.1 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 20 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.2 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
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 Manly, IA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manly, IA
This is one driving day of about 92.3 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Manly, IA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Avenue of the Saints for about 69.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 92.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North Broadway Street
Turn right onto North Broadway Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 9 / East South Street
Turn left onto IA 9 / East South Street
Navigation decision point
4
16.1 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
5
91.7 mi into trip|~1h 55m 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
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.7
0
$9.69
$4.43
Efficient EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.69
EV Truck/SUV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.91
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Manly, IA
Night
in Manly on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
70°F
Nashua, IA
46 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
22 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 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this route relies on a mix of North Broadway Street, East South Street, and Highway 9 to navigate the landscape. Because 0% of the drive is on major highways, you will spend the entire time on local roads, which dictates a steady, measured pace. Expect a personality defined by frequent turns rather than long, high-speed stretches. This setup requires more active attention than a typical freeway cruise, making the experience feel more like a localized regional transit.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 69.1 mi on Avenue of the Saints.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Broadway Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 9 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 (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 9 / East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 92.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 69.1 miles on Avenue of the Saints. 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 (North Broadway Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (IA 9 / East South Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
