This 229.5-mile drive from Red Oak to Waterloo, Iowa, is a straightforward 4-hour and 53-minute journey that can easily be completed in a single day. With a projected fuel cost of around $35, it's an economical option for traversing the heart of the Midwest. The route predominantly utilizes US 6 and I-80, offering a mixed driving experience with a significant portion on highways. You'll encounter just one recommended stop along the way, making it a convenient trip for those looking to reach their destination efficiently. This drive stays within Iowa, so you're exploring one state's varied landscapes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
114.8 miles from Red Oak, IA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 6
62 mi
1h 7m
Northeast Hubbell Road
35.2 mi
41m
I 80
18.9 mi
21m
US 20
18 mi
20m
Sanford Avenue
15.9 mi
21m
North Broadway Street
14 mi
20m
550th Street
10 mi
14m
White Pole Road
9 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
US 6
— 62 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Oak, IA and Waterloo, IA.
1
Start on East Reed Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East Reed Street
2
Turn right onto IA 48
14 mi·20 min·North Broadway Street
3
Continue on IA 48
0.9 mi·1 min·M Avenue
4
Continue on IA 48
4.8 mi·7 min·550th Street
5
Continue on IA 48
1.0 mi·1 min·Adair Street
6
Continue on IA 48
5.3 mi·7 min·550th Street
7
Turn right onto US 6
8.9 mi·13 min·White Pole Road
8
Continue on US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·Southwest 7th Street
9
Continue on US 6
0.6 mi·1 min·West 7th Street
10
Continue on US 6
0.1 mi·22 sec·White Pole Road
11
Continue on US 6; IA 83
3.5 mi·6 min·East 7th Street
12
Turn left onto US 6; US 71
6.4 mi·8 min·650th Street
13
Take the exit onto US 6
62 mi·1 hr 7 min·US 6
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi·5 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
16
Take the exit onto US 65
0.5 mi·1 min·US 65
Exit 142Toward US 6 West, US 65 North, IA 330 North: Marshalltown, BondurantUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto US 65; IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·Northeast Hubbell Avenue
18
Continue on US 65; IA 330
35 mi·41 min·Northeast Hubbell Road
19
Turn left onto IA 330
5.9 mi·8 min·Marsh Avenue
20
Continue on IA 330
1.2 mi·1 min·South Main Street
21
Continue on IA 330
4.3 mi·5 min·160th Street
22
Turn left onto IA 14
16 mi·21 min·Sanford Avenue
23
Turn right onto IA 14; IA 175
6.3 mi·9 min·240th Street
24
Turn left onto M Avenue
1.5 mi·2 min·M Avenue
25
Continue on County Road T37
1.0 mi·1 min·County Road T37
26
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
1.0 mi·1 min·210th Street
27
Turn left onto IA 14
4.4 mi·6 min·N Avenue
28
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·58 sec
Toward US 20 East: Waterloo
29
Merge onto US 20
18 mi·20 min·US 20
30
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 63: Sergeant Road
31
Turn slight right
120 ft·6 sec
32
Turn straight onto US 63
3.8 mi·5 min·Sergeant Road
Use the left lane.
33
Turn right onto US 63
388 ft·9 sec·University Avenue
34
Turn straight onto US 63
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 63
35
Turn right
0.1 mi·10 sec
36
Continue on Washington Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Washington Street
37
Turn right onto West 4th Street
76 ft·2 sec·West 4th Street
38
Arrive at destination
West 4th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 53-minute duration, starting your trip from Red Oak in the morning will allow ample time to reach Waterloo by late afternoon, with just one planned stop. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 62-mile stretch on US 6, as services might be less frequent than on the interstate. The $35 fuel cost is an estimate, so it's wise to factor in a little extra for unexpected detours or local exploration. This relatively short drive offers flexibility; you can depart at your leisure but should aim to leave early enough to avoid driving in darkness.
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 114.8 miles from Red Oak, IA, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62 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 50 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.8 miles or 2h 25m 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 57m
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 Red Oak, 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 Red Oak, IA
This is one driving day of about 229.5 miles and 4h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Red Oak, 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 US 6 for about 62 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 108.6 and 229.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
108.6 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
6
123 mi into trip|~2h 35m 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
127.5 mi into trip|~2h 40m 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
200.6 mi into trip|~4h 15m in|210th Street
Turn sharp right onto 210th Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
229.5 mi into trip|~4h 53m in|West 4th Street
Turn right onto West 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.88 one way
$71.76 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.39
$78.79
premium
$4.89
$44.17
$88.33
diesel
$5.61
$50.67
$101.34
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.9
0
$24.10
$11.02
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.08
$9.18
EV Truck/SUV
91.8
1
$32.13
$14.69
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Red Oak, IA
Night
in Red Oak on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waterloo, IA
Night
in Waterloo on Saturday
Local time
9:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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
8 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this Iowa route, with 43% of the journey taking place on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62 miles, primarily on US 6. This suggests a good balance between faster-paced highway driving and more local road segments. The drive progresses through varied terrain, offering a break from monotonous stretches. Northeast Hubbell Road also plays a role, indicating transitions between different types of roadways as you move towards Waterloo.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62 mi on US 6.
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 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 108.6 miles in near I 80.
Driving Effort6/10
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 229.5 miles you will encounter 20 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 108.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Red Oak, IA and Waterloo, IA, road signs point toward Minneapolis, Kansas City and Bondurant.
Minneapolis
108.6 mi in|~2h 18m|via I 80
Kansas City
108.6 mi in|~2h 18m|via I 80
Bondurant
127.5 mi in|~2h 40m|via US 65
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 229.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62 miles on US 6. 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 108.6 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 123 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 127.5 miles (US 65): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Waterloo, IA, but most travelers stay overnight.
