Pleasantville to Waterloo is 129.6 miles and takes about 2 hours 46 minutes via Northeast Hubbell Road and US 20, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Iowa, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Expect a drive with frequent turns and a profile best described as a turn-heavy local drive, rather than a straight shot on major interstates. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion when you want to get from Point A to Point B without a major commitment.
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
64.8 miles from Pleasantville, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
US 20
18 mi
20m
State Highway 5
16 mi
18m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
9.1 mi
10m
240th Street
6.3 mi
9m
Marsh Avenue
5.9 mi
8m
N Avenue
4.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Northeast Hubbell Road
— 35.2 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pleasantville, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on South Washington Street
94 ft·6 sec·South Washington Street
2
Turn right onto CR G40
0.4 mi·44 sec·East Jasper Street
3
Continue on CR G40
0.2 mi·21 sec·County Highway G40
4
Turn right onto IA 5
16 mi·18 min·State Highway 5
5
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
6
Merge onto US 65
9.1 mi·10 min·Military Order of the Purple Heart Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
8
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·41 sec·this road
9
Turn right onto US 6
1.2 mi·1 min·Hubbell Avenue
10
Continue on US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
11
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
12
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
13
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
14
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
15
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
16
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
17
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
18
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
19
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
20
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
21
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
22
Merge onto US 20
18 mi·20 min·US 20
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
24
Turn slight right
120 ft·6 sec
25
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi·5 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft·9 sec·University Avenue
27
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 63
28
Turn right
0.1 mi·10 sec
29
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Washington Street
30
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
31
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 46 minute duration and turn-heavy nature of this 129.6-mile route, leaving in the morning allows for a relaxed pace and ample time for your single recommended stop. The estimated fuel cost is around $20, so ensure your tank is full before departing Pleasantville. Pay close attention to navigation, especially as you transition between Northeast Hubbell Road, US 20, and State Highway 5, due to the frequent turns. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience, but an early start is best to fully enjoy the local road experience.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.8 miles from Pleasantville, IA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.2 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 29 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 miles or 1h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
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 Pleasantville, 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 Pleasantville, IA
This is one driving day of about 129.6 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Pleasantville, 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 Northeast Hubbell Road for about 35.2 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 129.6 — 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|CR G40 / East Jasper Street
Turn right onto CR G40 / East Jasper Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|IA 5 / State Highway 5
Turn right onto IA 5 / State Highway 5
Navigation decision point
5
26.2 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6: Hubbell Avenue, Altoona
5
100.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
129.6 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.26 one way
$40.52 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$22.25
$44.49
premium
$4.89
$24.94
$49.88
diesel
$5.61
$28.61
$57.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.9
0
$13.61
$6.22
Efficient EV
32.4
0
$11.34
$5.18
EV Truck/SUV
51.8
0
$18.14
$8.29
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Pleasantville, IA
Night
in Pleasantville on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
11:37 PM
CDT
Current temp
78°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
WSW 18 to 22 mph53% chanceLive forecast
72°F
Newton, IA
65 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
26 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
2h 46m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 129.6-mile journey features a significant amount of local road driving, with only 26% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a dynamic driving experience characterized by frequent turns, making it feel more like navigating through communities than a steady highway cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road, so be prepared for a more engaging drive with various speed changes. This isn't a monotonous interstate experience; rather, it's a route that will keep you actively involved with the road ahead.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.2 mi on Northeast Hubbell Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR G40 / East Jasper Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 129.6 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (CR G40 / East Jasper Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (IA 5 / State Highway 5): Navigation decision point; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pleasantville, IA to Waterloo, IA, road signs begin pointing toward Altoona along the way.
Altoona
26.2 mi in|~31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 129.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (26%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.2 miles on Northeast Hubbell Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR G40 / East Jasper Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (IA 5 / State Highway 5): Navigation decision point; at 26.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterloo, IA before heading back.
